King Fern

King Fern is the largest fern you can plant in an Australian garden. Angiopteris evecta reaches about 3m tall from a squat trunk, with fronds stretching 5m from base to tip, so a mature plant occupies well over 4m of ground. Native to the wet forests of far north Queensland, it is a specimen plant, not a garden filler.

Why you'll love it

• Fronds on a scale you have to see. Each arching frond runs to 5m, filling a shaded courtyard on its own.
• A living fossil. The genus predates flowering plants. The swollen trunk and paired basal scales look prehistoric.
• An Australian native. It belongs in a subtropical or tropical rainforest style planting.
• It wants the spot nothing else likes. Deep shade with permanently moist soil defeats most gardeners.
• Evergreen structure year round. No flowers to wait for; form and foliage carry the space in every season.

Where it works best

Rainforest feature planting. The one genuine use. Anchor a shaded gully or sheltered courtyard, allowing a clear 4m to 5m radius so the fronds extend without hitting a wall or path.

Under a high canopy. Established palms or large-leafed natives give it the filtered light and still air it grew up under.

Beside water. Creek banks, pond edges and damp low points suit it: it takes wet feet, and the humidity keeps fronds from crisping.

Growing King Fern in Australia

Position and climate. Deep shade and shelter from wind, which tears fronds that size. Tropical and subtropical only, and frost tender, so gardens south of about the mid New South Wales coast need a heated glasshouse. Humidity is a requirement.

Soil. Deep, rich, permanently moist soil high in organic matter. Dig compost and aged leaf litter through the bed, and mulch thickly.

Water and feed. Never let the root zone dry out, even briefly, and mist in dry weather. Feed a gentle organic fertiliser twice through the warmer months; strong chemical fertiliser burns the roots.

Pruning. Remove fronds only once they have browned off, cutting near the trunk. Old frond bases build the knobbly trunk, so leave them.

What to expect when it arrives

Three sizes are grown: 400mm, 500mm and 700mm pots. Even the smallest is an established plant with several fronds, slow to produce and priced accordingly. The 700mm plants are advanced specimens with a formed trunk base.

Large fronds are vulnerable in transit, so plants travel with fronds tied and some tip damage is possible. That is cosmetic and grows out, though expect a slow first year while the roots establish. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Creating the right environment for ferns
• Ferns for shady areas
• Browse palms, ferns and tropical plants
• Exotic and rare plants

Common questions

How much space does it need?

More than most expect. Allow a clear radius of at least 4m: the fronds extend outward rather than upward and are damaged if they meet a wall or a fence.

Can I grow it in Sydney or Melbourne?

Not in open ground. It is frost tender and needs tropical or subtropical conditions with constant humidity, so southern gardens need a heated, humidified glasshouse.

How much sun can it take?

Very little. Deep shade is what it evolved under, and direct sun scorches the fronds within days.

Why is it so expensive?

It grows very slowly from spore and takes years to reach saleable size. This is a plant that cannot be rushed.