Characteristics
| Hardiness zone | 9b |
|---|---|
| Foliage type | evergreen |
| Plant form | upright spreading |
| Mature height | 3 feet |
| Spread | 4 feet |
| Light requirements | partial shade to shade |
| Moisture requirements | average to moist |
| Plant origin | import |
Dwarf Tree Fern
Botanical name: Blechnum gibbum
This shade loving dwarf tree fern produces long green fronds that arch gracefully from its short trunk, that forms over time; perfect for shaded areas of the garden or containers; never allow to dry out completely, but be careful not to overwater.
Other names: Silver Lady Fern
Ornamental Features
Dwarf Tree Fern's glossy ferny bipinnately compound leaves remain green in color throughout the year. Neither the flowers nor the fruit are ornamentally significant.
Landscape Attributes
Dwarf Tree Fern is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.
This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Dwarf Tree Fern is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Mass Planting, General Garden Use, Groundcover, Container Planting
Planting and Growing
Dwarf Tree Fern will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years.
This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.
Dwarf Tree Fern is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
