Blechnum gibbum
Family: Blechnaceae
Common Name(s): Miniature tree fern
Grown by: David Feix, Berkeley
The common name of this plant, miniature tree fern, somewhat describes this fern, although the trunk can get to be 3 or 4 foot tall, which is more than miniature if you are raising it as a houseplant.
Luckily we can grow this outdoors in protected areas where it can be stunning if properly placed. The leaves can get to be two feet long and are shiny bright green. Like all blecnums it occasionally sends up a ring of different fronds which are the spore producing fronds.They are narrower and the backsides are coated with brown spores. It is native to pacific Islands like Fiji and so prefers the warmest site you can provide. It survives all but our coldest winters.
