Dicksonia youngiae


Dicksonia youngiae, common name bristly tree fern, is a fern that comes from cool, sheltered rainforests in New [South Wales] and Queensland, Australia. It is found north of the Bellinger River, in New South Wales, and can be seen in the wild at Nightcap [National Park].
Similar to D. squarrosa, it sends up multiple trunks and can grow 4 m high. The species is relatively fast growing and capable of adding 10 cm of growth to its trunk in a single growing season. Trunks often become unstable when they reach around 3 m in height and topple over. If the trunk is in contact with the ground a new plantlet will often grow from the fallen trunk. Dicksonia youngiae is not fully hardy and will not tolerate more than a few degrees of frost.
Bristly tree fern fronds are a glossy, deep green colour. Coarse, reddish hairs densely cover the stipes and fiddleheads. It is intolerant of heat and needs shelter from wind.