Dicksonia fibrosa: Wheki-ponga (Golden Tree Fern)

Dicksonia fibrosa, the Wheki-ponga, Golden Tree Fern, Kuripaka, or Woolly Tree Fern, is a distinctive, slow-growing tree fern endemic to New Zealand. It develops a thick, sturdy trunk covered in a dense, persistent mat of golden-brown, fibrous roots (hence fibrosa), which does not shed like D. antarctica. The crown bears a shuttlecock of harsh, dark green, bipinnate fronds. It is very long-lived.

Plant Profile

Wheki-ponga prefers a mild, humid climate (USDA 9+), dappled shade, and consistently moist, well-drained soil. The persistent trunk fiber is excellent for mounting epiphytes (orchids, ferns). It is slower and more cold-tolerant than D. antarctica. A magnificent, architectural tree fern for New Zealand-style gardens and sheltered temperate woodlands. The trunk is a feature in itself.