Bush ferns are ideal plants for shady, damp gardensbecause they give a very original touch to the place, they even transport us to past seasons. These plants coexisted with dinosaurs, in fact they were one of the first to appear on the planet, along with other primitive plants: the Cycas. They have a rather slow growth, but because they are very beautiful plants from a young age, it is not uncommon to find young specimens planted in shady places.
Addition dicksoniathe bush ferns par excellence, there is another that is gaining popularity especially in warm climates such as the Mediterranean: the cyathea. Today’s protagonist can be a great option whether you want to have it in a pot or in the garden.
They are native to temperate and humid climates. You can find them in Australia, Cuba, Europe. Some 460 different species have been counted, but the most common (and easy to find) are the cyathea cooperi and Cyathea Australisboth originally from Australia with similar growing needs.
They can grow to a height of 4 meters, but in habitat they can reach 6m. Its leaves are green and, some species, they have a glaucous underside as you can see in the photo above. They reproduce only by spores, which are only produced by adult specimens.
If you would like to have one of these beautiful ferns in your garden, remember that you must put it sheltered from direct sun the leaves could be burned. They prefer slightly acid soils, rich in organic matter, that do not compact. In a pot it will be highly advisable to use a substrate that has perlite to promote drainage, since its roots could not withstand the puddled water and could rot. We will let the substrate dry between watering and watering, as a precaution.
Composting is also recommendedwhether it is in a pot or in the ground. We will preferably use an ecological, organic fertilizer, and we will apply it following the manufacturer’s recommendations.
It resists frosts down to -4º, but if you live in a cold climate you can have it indoors without problems in a very bright room (due to natural light).
What did you think of Cyathea? Did you know her?
