Botanical name:

Todea barbara

Common name(s):

Royal fern, hard todea, king fern

About:

This particular fern can be found exclusively on the offshore islands and to the north of the scenic Bay of Islands, where its population is now becoming extremely rare due to ongoing forestry activities and various land development projects. It possesses rather erect, stiff fronds that exhibit a yellowish-green hue, which can grow up to approximately 1.2m in length and feature pinnately divided leaflets. As these older plants continue to mature, they often develop a short trunk. The fern is notably frost tender and has the ability to thrive in both sunny and shaded environments. Although it is tolerant of relatively dry conditions, it tends to be much happier when planted in moist yet well-drained soil. Due to the short lifespan of its spores, the most effective method of propagation is by division. This fern is currently of limited availability.

Natural habitat:

Coastal to lowland areas. A species of gum-land scrub, coastal shrub-lands, and stream side margins in open forest, occasionally found on coastal cliffs or on serpentinite. Often found on bare clay banks or fringing sinkholes in gum-land scrub.

Growing environment:

Sun, Shade, Wind, Wetland, Coastal & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

In New Zealand confined to the North Island, where it grows on the Poor Knights Islands and locally from Te Paki south to about Dargaville and the Bay of Islands. Common in South Africa and Australia.

Height: 1m

Flowering: 

N/A Spore producing.

Fruiting: N/A

Uses:

Riparian plantings & Forests

How to grow:

Very easily grown in any sunny, frost-free site. Will tolerant quite extreme conditions including very dry and very wet habitats but does best in a sunny, free draining soil.