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Post by Louise on May 27, 2011 9:17:57 GMT
I'm thinking of buying a couple to plant in my front garden, i've done a small amount of research but would be interested to hear from the folks who grow them in their own gardens.
The info i've read says that ........
* Plants older than 4 years old can only be regarded as truly hardy and not need winter protection.
* That they are "incredibly slow growing".
* That they require a lot of water.
* And that they don't do well in windy sites.
If you grow any types of 'hardy' tree ferns are the above points accurate because the printed word and the true-life experiences are often very different things ?
The site i'd be wanting them in is windy, hot and dry ...... is this a pie-in-the-sky idea of mine ? !
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Post by Cherry on May 27, 2011 12:36:49 GMT
Our real expert on this as we all know is the owner of the Dicksonia avatar. I only know where they grew in the wild and one was in my Victorian garden actually, under a eucalyptus tree.They are an understorey plant and they can take a good amount of dry as they grew on the sides of mountains as well as in valleys. They had snow every year in the high country of Victoria.
I lost my small Dicksonia here the winter before last, because of the dry fen wind, not because of the winter. They definitely don't like wind.
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Post by steve on May 27, 2011 16:07:09 GMT
Hello ;D
They are slow growing a couple of inches a year if you are lucky, I don't think size has anything to do with hardiness but site does, I have lost (I think ) a large antartica this winter but several smaller ones are fine, I would say even in your area you would have to provide some protection in a winter like the last one (have Cordylines died in your area?) they will be ok in a dry sunny and even windy site but the wind will damage the fronds by making them rub on the trunk as they are growing, dry sunny and sheltered would be better
the trunk benefits from a spraying of water every couple of days through spring summer autumn, in peak growth you can even pour water in to the crown...many gardening experts on garden progs will tell you to do this all year round which is a sure way to rot them in winter
The trunk is not a tree but basically a tall woody rhizome/root system which is why it benefits being watered regular
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Post by Louise on May 27, 2011 16:43:03 GMT
Cordylines around here have died when they're in exposed situations but have come through unscathed when sheltered and reading your words makes me think that this site is going to be unsuitable because of the winds. Any plant with fine frondy-type leaves is a no-no here because they get windburnt in an instant, remember i couldn't ever get my Sorbaria Sem to look good because the foliage was always frazzled so i think i'll have to think again  I really want something that looks tropical and exotic in the front garden but the conditions here are tough for a lot of plants to deal with - south facing, hot, sunny, windy and extremely well drained ...... it's not conducive to happy plants  |
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Post by steve on May 27, 2011 17:29:30 GMT
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Post by Louise on May 27, 2011 18:47:08 GMT
;D thank you, i just had a quick look and will study it properly tomorrow, thanks  So the shorter and thicker the fronds the better they'll be in the winds, that's logical. |
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Post by merlin on May 27, 2011 20:40:18 GMT
I bought one from Tatton last year, I kept it in the GH but lost it.
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Post by Louise on May 28, 2011 7:37:44 GMT
Did you buy a 4' or taller one, Merlin ?
The prices seem very reasonable seeing as how they grow so slowly, the sites i've looked at have 6-8' trees for quite sensible prices.
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Post by merlin on May 28, 2011 8:14:44 GMT
Did you buy a 4' or taller one, Merlin ? The prices seem very reasonable seeing as how they grow so slowly, the sites i've looked at have 6-8' trees for quite sensible prices. Louise I have got mixed up, I'm thinking of something else, it's me age !! Can't even remember it's name but it had Crocosma like leaves with orangy flowers, something like watsonia. |
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Post by Louise on May 28, 2011 9:11:16 GMT
 ;D
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Post by steve on May 28, 2011 9:21:16 GMT
;D You had me wondering as mine came through outside in -15 ok ;D
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Post by grindle on May 29, 2011 5:28:01 GMT
Did you buy a 4' or taller one, Merlin ? The prices seem very reasonable seeing as how they grow so slowly, the sites i've looked at have 6-8' trees for quite sensible prices. Louise I have got mixed up, I'm thinking of something else, it's me age !! Can't even remember it's name but it had Crocosma like leaves with orangy flowers, something like watsonia. oh good, I'm so glad I bought one at Malvern  |
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