Dicksonia squarrosa

[tbearz]

A friend gave me a Dicksonia squarrosa around July 4 and I put it into the ground last weekend. I removed a semi-dwarf black fig which had ceased bearing well since my canopy has filled in. This corner used to be my vegetable/herb corner but now that it is shaded a good part of the day I have expanded my palms and palm friendly plants into the area. I put the squarrosa in the corner. This is a clumping tree fern and as it grows and expands I think it will nicely screen out the neighbors below. I really love the dark trunk and compact crown of this New Zealand fern. At it's left is a Cham. woodsoniana that should complement it well. In the last picture, right hand bottom is a Ceroxylon amazonicum that I started from seed a few years ago and planted out in April. This fern is a great backdrop. Let's hear your thoughts.

[Palm crazy]

Thats a nice tree fern. I hope to get one someday! Looks really good with the chamaedorea.

Is that a good place for Ceroxylon amazonicum? Don’t they have huge tall fat trunks? To me it seem awful close to the edge. Maybe not?

[edbrown_III]

You did good ! looks great

[Tropicgardener]

^{I have tried a few of these and killed them all.............they don't like humid tropical summers.}

[Geoff]

nor do they like arid, hot summers (like in inland Los Angeles)… all mine have croaked as well… need to be kept nearly constantly moist in this climate (water trunk 2x a day)… does great along the coast here, though

[Palm crazy]

Great information Guys, now I really want one. I would plant it in a pot in my climate and leave outside , bring inside if it freeze’s.

Tbearz, you’re really lucky to fine one with a nice trunk.

Edited August 18, 2015 by Palm crazy

[tbearz]

Thats a nice tree fern. I hope to get one someday! Looks really good with the chamaedorea.

Is that a good place for Ceroxylon amazonicum? Don’t they have huge tall fat trunks? To me it seem awful close to the edge. Maybe not?

Yes, thanks all for the great information and comments. Palm crazy - the amazonicum picture is a little deceptive. The center of the palm is 12 inches from either edge and amazonicum, from what I read at least, is one of the thinner trunked Ceroxylons. Never in a thousand years would I plant one of the monsters - ventricosum, quindiense - in this spot. In fact, not anywhere in my garden because I just don't have the room.

I had a squarrosa in another part of the yard for 7 or 8 years that just never took off. I removed it when I planted this fern. The previous one had a 3, 3.5 inch trunk but at ground level the root entry of the trunk was less than and inch. Now I know why it didn't do well. I plan to put a Basselinia pancheri in that spot.

And, as an update, the new squarrosa has opened three new fronds since being moved. It's clearly happy to be out of its pot.

[Palm crazy]

Thanks for the information about the palm. Learn something new everyday. LOL!

I hope to get D. Squarrosa next year, they are a great forest dweller.