Tree Fern (Cyathea dealbata)
At a glance
- Exposure
- Full shade
- Frost limit
- −6.7 °C
Cultivation
Prefers a humus-rich soil in a sheltered light position but with shade from strong sun. It grows well in light woodland. Requires shelter from winds, an abundance of moisture at its roots and its trunk kept wet. A very ornamental plant, it succeeds outdoors in woodland conditions in the mildest areas of the country, but it is tender in most parts of Britain. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer.
Propagation
Spores - can be surface sown at any time of the year in a light position in a warm greenhouse. Grow on in a shady position in a greenhouse for at least the first two winters and plant out in late spring.
Edible uses
Pith of the stem. Young leaves - cooked. Harvested just before they unfurl, they are juicy and slimy, tasting like bitter celery.
Habitat
Lowland to montane forests and shrubland on North, South and Chatham Islands.
Native range
New Zealand.
Scientific synonyms Alsophila dealbata