Cyathea atrox

[Palm crazy]

Is anyone growing this tree fern... Cyathea Atrox?        Said to be growing native in Tropical alpine elevation and doesn't need to much heat to grow.  Any information would be helpful. 

[PalmatierMeg]

I did some research on the Cyathea genus and the info on atrox indicated it preferred a cool climate. That told me it would probably melt here in FL kind of like C. dealbata. I know there are species of Cyathea that grow on PR and other Caribbean islands but they appear to be non-existent in cultivation. I already have C. cooperi.

[Palm crazy]

8 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

I did some research on the Cyathea genus and the info on atrox indicated it preferred a cool climate. That told me it would probably melt here in FL kind of like C. dealbata. I know there are species of Cyathea that grow on PR and other Caribbean islands but they appear to be non-existent in cultivation. I already have C. cooperi.

Meg, that's what I have read also. Not good for FL.  Likes it cool and wet but dry in winter. I've got C. dealbata on my wish list. And, I like to try C. tomentosissima.  

[PalmatierMeg]

I had C. tomentosissima on my radar briefly until I read further. Another no-grow fern tree.

[Palm crazy]

1 hour ago, PalmatierMeg said:

I had C. tomentosissima on my radar briefly until I read further. Another no-grow fern tree.

Were in the same boat... I'm a little too cold and your a little too hot to grow these tree ferns. I plan on getting some of these pretty soon so will share pic's when they get here. There just 4" plant I believe. Of course, all next week will be in the upper 80's (maybe 90's) so hopefully not too much stress for these baby ferns. 

[tbearz]

I have atrox here in San Francisco and it gets a good amount of sun.  It grows well but heat waves (days over 90 fahrenheit) do affect it, especially new growth.  Since it is from a higher elevation, I think that our cool nights and maritime influence benefit it and keeps it going through the heat.  I like it much better than cooperii, and I my judgment is that it is more tolerant of winter dark and cool.  It also does not have the persistent scale on the petioles - it is on the young fronds but soon falls off -of cooperii and seems "more elegant."  Another benefit is that the trunk continues to thicken at the ground due to adventitious roots that grow during the winter. Here are some photos.

 

[tbearz]

More photos:

 

[tbearz]

If you are in Washington, I would suggest Dicksonia squarrosa, I really winner of a tree fern IMHO.  The size isn't too big, it's a clumper and the trunks are a beautiful dark color.  It will take as much water as you can give it and it doesn't seem too bothered by persistent summer heat.  The only drawback is that I don't know it's tolerance for freezing, which I suspect is not too low.  Also, its Dicksonia, not Cyathea, which I find to be less fussy on whole as a genus.  Here is squarossa grown in my San Francisco garden:

 

[Palm crazy]

 

Tbearz,

Thanks for posting your tree fern pics. They all look really good and in good health.  The limiting factor in WWA state is the cold winter temps we get off and on throughout the winter.  Dicksonia is the easiest to get here and one of the cold hardy for me, but it can still die at around 15F. The one I have in the ground is a monster and much bigger in trunk size than you can get in the States. Northern CA Coastal towns (sunset 17) is probably the only place that has them this thick. I can not put my arms around my trunk that's how thick it is. 

C. dregei is supposed to be the hardiness tree in cultivation.  But not easy to find and impossible to find anywhere in the US nurseries. Someday I may find one, LOL!  D. squarrosa is on my wishlist and is promising as a potted tree fern plant. 

All your tree ferns are doing good and are what I hope to have someday.

Thanks for sharing! 

[caixeta]

Cyathea caracasana  - Know by Palma Boba , very beautiful  ,in Botanic Garden of Bogota , 2600 m of altitude .

[Cape Garrett]

On 7/6/2018, 2:13:05, Palm crazy said:

Is anyone growing this tree fern... Cyathea Atrox?        Said to be growing native in Tropical alpine elevation and doesn't need to much heat to grow.  Any information would be helpful. 

Hey Roger.  Try one.  I bet most of the year it would love your climate.  Maybe just keep it potted and bring it into an unheated garage or green house during a freeze.  I am trying one.  It may melt but I will give it a try before I give up.  Ordered one on ebay.  Should be here any day.  I have read that in it's home it rarely falls below 40 or rarely to 70.  I'm definitely hot here but will see what the shade and extra moisture will do.  I may keep it potted and put it out in my winters.

Edited July 11, 2018 by Cape Garrett

[Palm crazy]

Well Garrett, if you think I should I will get one express mail. LOL.  Only has to be in the 60's for it to grow so that does sound good to me. I should be getting one today or very soon. 89F today and low 90's this weekend hopefully it will get here soon so I can pot it up right away. Thanks for the encouragement. Will post pics of it tomorrow for sure. I also ordered two other types will post them when they get here. 

[tbearz]

My observations about atrox and heat/cold are that it doesn't mind a heat spike here or there, but I it would be unhappy with sustained daytime and nighttime heat.  As for cold, it doesn't generally mind the San Francisco winter - but my atrox has never seen anything below freezing.  Probably 34 degrees at the lowest.  What it does mind though, is cold, dry, winter windstorms.  Any newish fronds definitely get crispy during those events. 

[Palm crazy]

2 hours ago, tbearz said:

My observations about atrox and heat/cold are that it doesn't mind a heat spike here or there, but I it would be unhappy with sustained daytime and nighttime heat.  As for cold, it doesn't generally mind the San Francisco winter - but my atrox has never seen anything below freezing.  Probably 34 degrees at the lowest.  What it does mind though, is cold, dry, winter windstorms.  Any newish fronds definitely get crispy during those events. 

Thanks for more information on your observation with C. atrox. I don't think this one will have a problem with our summer heat but winter lows are a factor I have to take into account. We rarely have dry cold winter winds here, it's usually cold and cloudy and sometimes it will snows. I'm not taking any chances with these new tree ferns. They will all be in a slightly heated outdoor room during winter where the temps are in the 50's day and night.  

Tomorrow morning I will have these potted up and take some pics. As I am writing this I got the C. atrox from UPS and I was totally blown away that fern factory sent me two C. atrox. I am totally stoked about this. All are small but arrived in good condition.  

Thanks, Tbearz

[Palm crazy]

Here is the picture of my new baby tree ferns. first, two are C. Tomentossima and C. Dealbata. 

 

 

[Palm crazy]

The last tree fern is C. Atrox and all three tree ferns together. You can pretty much see the difference in all of them. 

Edited July 13, 2018 by Palm crazy

[Cape Garrett]

4 hours ago, Palm crazy said:

The last tree fern is C. Atrox and all three tree ferns together. You can pretty much see the difference in all of them. 

Good luck with them.  Keep us posted on their growth.

[Palm crazy]

Thanks, everyone for your response and well wishes on these new plants.  I told a friend about the C. Atrox and hopefully, more people in the PNW will try this one. I don't think it will be even hardy here in 9a because it does get down to mid 20's but you never know until you try.   Will update in the future for sure.