Golden tree fern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Golden tree fern |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Dicksonia fibrosa, Berne Botanical Garden, Switzerland | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dicksonia
|
| Species: |
fibrosa
|
The Dicksonia fibrosa, also known as the golden tree fern, is a special type of tree fern that grows naturally in New Zealand. In the Māori language, it has two other names: whekī-ponga or kuripaka. This fern is famous for its unique look and how it grows.
Contents
Discovering the Golden Tree Fern
The golden tree fern is a medium-sized plant. It's part of a group of ferns called Dicksonia. These ferns are known for their strong, upright trunks. The Dicksonia fibrosa stands out because of its special features.
What Does It Look Like?
The golden tree fern has a thick trunk that feels soft and is covered in rusty brown fibers. One cool thing about this fern is that it holds onto its old, dead leaves. These dead leaves create a pale brown "skirt" around the trunk. This skirt helps you tell it apart from other similar ferns, like the Dicksonia squarrosa.
How Tall Does It Get?
This fern grows quite slowly, a bit like another fern called Dicksonia antarctica. Even though it's slow, the golden tree fern can eventually reach a height of about 6 meters (that's almost 20 feet!). It's a tall and impressive plant when fully grown.
Caring for the Golden Tree Fern
If you live in a place where winters get very cold and have frost, the golden tree fern needs some extra care. It needs protection during the winter months to stay healthy. Because it's such a beautiful and well-loved plant, the Royal Horticultural Society gave it their Award of Garden Merit. This award means it's a great plant for gardens.
Where Does It Grow?
The golden tree fern is found in several parts of New Zealand. You can see it in the South Island, Stewart Island, and the Chatham Islands. It also grows in the North Island. However, it's not as common in the northern areas, especially north of the Waikato River and the Coromandel Peninsula. It prefers certain climates and conditions to thrive.
