whekī

Dicksonia squarrosa | whekī, rough tree fern, harsh tree fern

 

A hardy, fast-growing New Zealand native common in the bush. It develops a slender black trunk topped with a neat crown of mid-green fronds that shed as the fern grows taller. This low-maintenance tree fern thrives in shady, moist, and sheltered spots, protected from harsh afternoon sun and strong winds. It's excellent for revegetation, native and mixed plantings, and adds interest alongside water features.

coastal forest

lowland forest

montane forest

moist

full shade

partial shade

height | 7m

width | 1.5m / 20cm (trunk)

Whekī trunks were traditionally used to line house walls, offering great insulation as well as serving as walkways across swampy terrain. Even today, whekī trunks are used for fences, often sprouting new growth from dormant buds, a unique characteristic shared with ponga among tree ferns, allowing them to grow from severed trunks planted in the soil.