About Dicksonia squarrosa (G.Forst.) Sw.
Dicksonia squarrosa, commonly called whekī, is a fast-growing tree fern with an annual growth rate of between 10 and 80 cm (4 to 31 in), and it typically grows to around 6 m (20 ft) tall. This species produces only a small number of fronds, all of which sprout in an almost horizontal direction. Individual fronds reach between 1.5 and 3 m (5–10 ft) in length, which is much smaller than the fronds of Cyathea species, and they have a distinctly crisp texture to the touch. The fronds form a small umbrella-shaped cluster at the top of the trunk. New fronds can sometimes sprout from pieces of trunk that appear to be dead. If the top of the trunk dies, fronds may also sprout from the sides of the trunk. Dead trunks of this species are often used for fencing and garden edging. A defining characteristic of whekī is its spreading underground rhizomes, which allow the species to form dense groves. This growth habit makes it one of the most common tree ferns found in New Zealand forests. In cultivation, whekī is quite hardy, tolerant of full sun and some wind, but grows best in sites with partial shade and limited wind. It can survive some exposure to open weather, though it will develop a messy, scruffy appearance in these conditions. In regions where winter temperatures drop below 4–5 °C, winter protection such as a shadecloth cover or straw packed into the crown of the fern is recommended. Its small, compact fronds make whekī an ideal plant for containers and small gardens where growing space is limited, and it has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Historically, Māori people used dead whekī trunks to build fences for their fortified pā settlements.
