I think it could be Cyathea cooperi.

Rgds

Really?

The tag at the nursery did indicate 'Dicksonia', so I was actually hoping it might be 'antarctica', but wanted to be sure so I would care for it properly. If you don't mind, what is making you think it's not even Dicksonia?

Thanks!

I also think it looks more like Cyathea cooperi. To me the Dicksonia has a rougher look/texture to the fronds/leaflets. Yours in the photo seem a bit softer. C. cooperi also has that hairyness shown in your photo. What you can check yourself is when the old fronds come off on C. cooperi they leave a scar type of patch on the trunk whereas with the Dicksonias they don't come off clean.

Thank you both.

I guess I am kind of surprised that they would label a plant incorrectly like that at a reputable nursery but, hey, I guess I shouldn't be.

So, going with the Cyathea ID...any advice on getting this plant through a New England winter...indoors, of course!

Thanks!

Couple more pics...

Nurseries tend to go with whatever label their suppliers give them. The main nursery I go to the owners know a lot more than I do about plants but sometimes have mislabelled plants. Even though I point them out they usually don't change them.

Cyathea cooperi likes a bit of humidity which can become quite low indoors especially where there is heating. They like to be kept moist but with good drainage. They can grow quite large but that's in ideal conditions.

Hi

Not sure either about the species but would agree with the others as to Cyathea. No matter most tree ferns are cultured about the same . I grow them in the garden so conditions are much different . I find the foliage needs moisture as much as the roots During summer with daily rains and high humidity they look fantastic . Winter with low humidity and low rainfall ,not so much lol. Have found them difficult to keep in pots for several reasons

They do get rather large and quickly when happy. My largest is over 20 feet span and the "trunk is still under 4 feet!!!. This, in around 4 years and under a foot when I got it!!. Proper watering and humidity is going to be difficult indoors .Would think a better choice would have been the Blechnum family?? Similar conditions but much more restrained growth.

Might mention you are lucky you got a name even if incorrect lol Around here i t's usually "Fern 'Tropical fern" or even more informative "6 inch tree fern" lol Anyway good luck with yours !!! gary

Thanks, Gary. Looks like my hopes of keeping one of these alive for any extended period of time are pretty slim. I do keep a lot of plants in my sunroom over the winter. Electric heat in there, with a lot of gravel trays for the other plants to catch any watering overflow. HID lights as well as skylights. I've kept several large palms in there with other plants for years. That said, I can appreciate the extra humidity needs of this plant, and do know that it can still get to be a pretty dry ambient humidity in there during the winter.

One thing I was considering was possibly building some sort of small humidity enclosure around this plant while it was in the sunroom...not sure what that might be yet, but was thinking about it. Maybe some sort of small frame structure with plastic around it to retain moisture, while the plant sits on a gravel tray as well? Not sure yet...

So, how late in the season can I let this plant stay outside before having to bring it in, then? Can it handle nights into the 40's Fahrenheit okay?

Thanks!

Tom

I don't know what the lower limits of its requirements are but low relative humidity and/or wind would make it less tolerant. The problem indoors is that people usually don't do well in conditions that are ideal for a lot of plants and climate modification in houses is suited to people.

This is an older post but your "Dicksonia" ;looks alot like a labeled "Dicksonia" I saw in a heated greenhouse for sale. Heres a pic I took when I was there.

The tag said "Australian tree fern" , and it looked exactly the same at pot soil level as your pics, with the thin brown hairy "trunks" in it's infancy. I am not sure if the OP is still in possession of this fern, but, I THINK the pic the OP posted is a real Australian tree fern. I am guessing most people on here didn't grow 1, so they didn't know that this is how they start out before growing trunks. OR this greenhouse was not labeling their plants right. Sorry, I didn't get a close up of the tag, but, I am sure of what it was labeled as.

I must ask, does anyone who has grown this plant know if I can grow one in a large pot? I was told NO before, but, I must ask again. I can provide an extra moist environment if needed, but, I am zone 6 SW Pa, so it will be in my basement in a tent with supplemental moisture if needed only. It will get natural light from the window facing south.

But, if it won't do good I won't bother to buy it.

The problem is that there's probably more than a couple of dozen "Australian Tree Ferns" so people are likely to pick the first scientific name they come across assuming it must be right. The one in your photo is also Cyathea cooperi. As far as growing in pots goes, this is what I found on the internet about Cyatheas:

"They can be kept indefinitely in a container (over 20 years) as long as they are given some slow-release fertiliser in a premium potting mix and are nourished with some inorganic and organic fertiliser 3-4 times a year and are watered frequently in small quantities and plenty of light."

Okay, thanks for the info.

After some looking on the web, I see that Dicksonia Antarctica may be tricky to overwinter in zone 6. I will LIKELY need a heated greenhouse, even if it's in a pot. It seems that they need humidity more than most people can stand in their homes. Maybe I can put it in a clear tent in my basement, and make sure it's humid enough, more than the rest of the basement air. I will need to order the plant from online places.

I forgot to mention that it can grow in a pot. I saw a Youtube video of them in the UK grown in a pot. But they have 1 outside in a pot, I don't know why it's in a pot outdoors. I am thinking if they can grow it in a pot, why can't I?

Dicksonia antarctica is more cold hardy than Cyathea cooperi, it comes from a cooler climate. That's why it's a better choice where it gets cold, but it does have its limits. If you're in a marginal area keeping them in a pot allows movement into protection if needed.

Thanks again Trop, I'll need to see if it is available and not too costly to get etc.

Hi...OP here! My tree fern made it through the winter in my sunroom very well. Humidity in there ranged from 30-80 percent, with the help of a small humidifier. Averaged around 50 percent, I think. It is getting quite the 'fern span', so I wonder where I'll eventually be able to keep it indoors.

Which leads me to my next question...does anyone know a good online source for a nice sized Blechnum gibbum? I hear they remain a more manageable size...thanks!

Hijack, away! I did find a source for Blechnum gibbum (my local nursery!). Ordered one in a 10 inch pot...should be here in a couple of weeks...

Do they grow in soil too? I just saw a pic where it's in a moss ball when I did a websearch. I'm guessing they are an orchid type plant epipiphyte or that type of plant.

Okay, thanks for the image TT. I will decide if I will want to try it as a houseplant here in zone 6 SW Pa.

Today...

Hey TT I love what I think is a "Design Toscano sculpture" on your house, and of course your blechnum Gibbum, if that is indeed what is in the last picture. It all looks great.

TT, I love how you have a "Staghorn fern" mounted, if that is what it is. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Poaky1...pictured is my Cyathea that was originally tagged as 'Dicksonia' by my local nursery...second summer with it. That is a staghorn fern pictured, as well (platycerium bifurcatum, maybe?). Have had that for many years. And, yes...that's a 'catgoyle'...I believe it is from Design Toscano...they still around? T

That is Platycerium bifurcatum, but it looks like it's been 'thinned out' a bit.

Here's 1 above, I forget the name.