And here they are, from Australia with love!
Finally more tree ferns, Dicksonia antarctica have arrived to satisfy the ever increasing and persistent demand for them here in the UK.
There seemed to be a shortage of them this spring, because of some rule changes that bought about delays in their arrival. I haven't really explored yet what these rule changes were that caused the delays but it seemed to be about the way they are shipped here. Along the lines of less frequent shipment but in bigger batches. I'm not sure if this will cause any long term shortage as such as in theory it should even out but with the delay it certainly felt like it.
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| Several sizes were available, in this photo you'll see sizes from two to six feet |
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| Eight feet ones |
Especially as we're extra conscious about the supply this spring as we're after several as part of the replanting and makeover of our jungle area was affected by fire last year. We were hoping to get tree ferns last Easter Bank holiday as usually by that time most exotic nurseries here have them already in stock. Very few had any then. And we continued ringing nurseries around but they had very little to nothing in stock. It didn't help that we were after particular sizes either.
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| Pre-ordered tree ferns ready for delivery |
All of them did mention about shipping problems, that there were delays. Nothing to do then but wait.
And finally they have arrived. First ones to receive their order was the Palm Centre. A week or so later was Seagrave Nursery. Actually their shipment only arrived yesterday and we paid them a visit today.
The sight of all those trunked Dicksonia antarctica stacked and grouped together were mesmerizing! We were both like children in a sweet shop, albeit the sweets were mostly just one kind but came in different sizes.
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| Gaz making a choice and checking out the height |
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| Decisions, decisions! |
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| Wrapped up and ready to go home with us |
We made our choices and arranged for delivery. Two did come home with us and are currently soaking in water to hydrate them and get them primed for planting.
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| Thoroughly hosed with the base in a bag full of water |
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| Another one left to soak for several hours |
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| Where the tree ferns will go |
Tree ferns will be the main planting and provide structure to the jungle area/fernery and with their arrival we can finally move on and truly sort out this section. It will be heavy work but I'm excited and can't wait to get them planted!
Mark :-)
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
That's an amazing sight! Great to be able to pick your own out, but so hard to choose. Isn't it incredible that those apparently dead logs turn into such exotic ferny loveliness. Exciting to be able to really start your replanting.
ReplyDeleteIt is an amazing sight Janet, and can elicit various emotions too from others. And yes you're right, quite fascinating that these logs will be a source of green lushness later on :)
DeleteHow exactly do you choose when they're pretty much all just wooly trunks? Maybe that makes it simpler though...
ReplyDeleteAt this state Alan, the best way to choose which ones of the lot to go for, apart from the height is by the size of girth and how healthy the crown is, if it has lots of knuckles ready to burst out. The fatter the better too although some prefer slender ones.
DeleteYou have to really know what you're doing to start with something like that and even know which end is up. How long will it take them to grow roots and leaves?
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to spot which end is the right way up Ricki, flat bit is the bottom while the hollow one is the crown. Planted soon it can start re rooting by the end of the season. It should start leafing out about now and another flush later on, mid summer.
DeleteI'm so surprised to see that they're shipped without foliage. Two came home with you but you mentioned arranging for delivery - how many did you get?!
ReplyDeleteKris, I think part of the regulation for their shipment is that they are sent leafless. It needs extra care as soon as possible to help them establish and do well. We bought five, the three were too heavy to go in the car.
DeleteThat's just craziness! We never see anything at all like that here, you really do live in an amazing place.
ReplyDeleteBTW my experimental tree fern in the ground is officially dead, oh well...
Sorry to hear that Loree, it was the wrong winter to try one :( hopefully you get another one soon,miss worth trying again (or keep it potted). Europe, especially UK seems a bit more relaxed when it comes to getting flora from other parts of the world. That's always in danger of changing at any point in the future though...
DeleteOhhhh, how many enormous tree ferns!!!! love love love it!!!
ReplyDeleteI tried a small one in the ground in my garden but it died. I didn´t know you could buy a trunk without roots and leaves and that it was alive! Tree ferns are one of my favorite plants ever.
Well worth trying again Lisa! Only Dicksonia Antarctica can withstand such treatment, others are very sensitive or at least needs a decent rootball already for it to survive.
DeleteLove anything Fern but I don't quite get those with nothing more than a trunk. I hope you do a bunch of photos planting so we can see exactly what this whole process is. Probably just putting it in the ground yet it just doesn't seem right that it would grow without those roots there. LOL
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
With a bit of care it should re root again Cher :)
DeleteI am fairly maxed out with tree ferns but your post has made me think that perhaps I can squeeze in just a few more :-) Having said that I am still heating the house by burning the trunks of the ones that perished in those two bad winters. Oh what the Hell I could treat them as annuals:-)
ReplyDeleteYou know you can never have enough of these Don :) we have had our share of winter casualties too, look at the last pic bottom right, a really tall one that perished in winter 2010-11
DeleteI've never seen anything like it. What a weird and wonderful sight indeed. Needless to say U.S. laws are so restrictive that we will never be able to buy tree ferns like this.
ReplyDeleteRegulation for plants going in the UK seems more lenient than most countries Gerhard, which helps reinforce the long standing heritage of British plant collectors. Things might change soon though...
DeleteHave had to put my specs on - at first sight I thought that I was looking at rolls and rolls of brown carpet. Hard to believe that they will morph into such greenness. You will no doubt feel that your garden is well on the road to recovery when you get your new purchases in the ground.
ReplyDeleteQuite fascinating indeed Anna, how these brown logs will eventually become lush and green :)
DeleteThanks for this post! Like many who have already commented, I'd never seen tree ferns in this state before and would have no idea that they could regenerate roots and sprout fronds from these logs. Glad that you got five; they'll really look great in your fernery! Happy planting gentlemen!
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter! Can't wait to get them planted, heavy work but so worth it!
DeleteI can remember just barely going to visit people with Mom and Dad when I was very young, and everyone, everyone seemed to have a Dicksonia antarctica or three in their garden. Now they are quite rare around here. Quite a surprise to see how they are bought in your locale. Here we buy them little in a pot and wait (and wait...).
ReplyDeleteIt's all about restrictions and fortunately UK and lots of other european countries seems more relaxed about the entry of plants. Ironically though Australia may import these and other plants but is one of the strictest in the world when it comes to letting plants in their territory from abroad.
DeleteI totally get the 'sweet shop' thing ! What a fantastic amount to choose from - we only ever get to choose from a handful of varied sizes.
ReplyDeleteWe were very interested to see the photos of you hydrating them when you got your new babies home. Do you just do that before initial planting or when it is very dry as well ?
Both Jane :) they love water, not to keep in waterlogged or boggy conditions but adore being drenched in water on a regular basis, the whole trunk with emphasis on the crown, also it's base. Getting them very hydrated puts them on a good start to re-establishing.
DeleteHow fascinating! I never knew they were in such demand, and that they were shipped like this, and survive it all! They will look great in that area (which already looks great!)
ReplyDelete