Native plants
wheki-ponga
Scientific name: Dicksonia fibrosa
English name: golden tree fern
Other names: wheki-kohoonga, golden tree fern, jade tree fern, kuripaka
Fern
- native to the Wellington Region
Suits: damp, shade, partial shade, sunny, shelter, coastal forest garden, small garden or balcony, wetlands and water features
About wheki-ponga
Wheki-ponga is a attractive slow growing, very hardy tree fern which will reach up to 10m in height (although over many decades!).
In gardens however they usually reach to about 6 metre.
The trunk is solitary, dense and made of red-brown interwoven rootlets and can reach up to a 1 metre in diameter. The fronds feel very crisp to touch, growing to 1,5 to 2 metre in length and create a very symmetrical appearance. forming dense crown in a light greenstone color. Dying and dead fronds leaves a tidy, persistent "skirt" beneath crown which protects the trunk from drying out or frost.
This species is suited to a sunny position or light shade. Usually found forested situations, in riparian sites or at gulley heads. A beautiful but slow-growing species that does best in cooler climates, in a damp, humus-enriched soil. Its important to keep moist while establishing, but once established quite tolerant of wide range of conditions.
Can tolerate more open sites than other tree ferns. Good planted in groups or as a specimen. Fit well with a tropical design as well as creating a very New Zealand atmosphere. Suitable for the smaller garden as its one of the slowest growing of the tree ferns.
Provides for lizards
- Clump forming for camouflage and insects
- Protection from predators
- Complexity and height
Read more about gardening for lizards.