mamaku
Sphaeropteris medullaris | mamaku, black tree fern
A striking native fern tree, capable of reaching an impressive height of 20 meters. Its dark green fronds can extend up to 5 meters in length, arching elegantly from the crown. This majestic fern with its black trunk is a superb choice for riparian planting, revegetation initiatives, native gardens, or as a dramatic addition to mixed plantings in spacious gardens.
typical habitat.
lowland forest
drainage.
well drained
moist
sun.
full shade
partial shade
mature specifications.
height | 20m
width | 6m / 30cm (trunk)
did you know?
Sphaeropteris medullaris can be propagated from fresh spores, although this is a slow process. Young plants transplant readily. Notably, even freshly cut trunks can often be successfully replanted and will resprout with careful watering. Once established, this tree fern exhibits hardiness across a range of conditions.