Found this lovely native tree fern in the rhododendron area at Dunedin Botanic Gardens, New Zealand. There’s lots of paths and some of the shadier paths have various kinds of ferns. As you can see it was a perfect spring day and I was thrilled to wander around at will. Nigel had other things to do in the city, joining me later in the afternoon. Photos taken 24 October 2020
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Tree fern, cabbage tree, and rhododendron flowers.
I can only identify the most obvious tree ferns, there’s a number of different species. I suspect this is whekī ponga or Dicksonia fibrosa because it’s retained its skirt of dead fronds and the leafy part of the fronds are still intact. Whekī ponga can reach up to 6 metres tall.
Information I’ve shared is from this Te Papa web page about identifying NZ’s most common tree ferns.
Text and photos by Liz; Exploring Colour (2020)
Exploring Colour 
Tree ferns are certainly among the most-iconic symbols of this wonderful country, and I love to find new ones whenever we take a new path in our travels.
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Tree ferns are something I miss when I’m away from New Zealand, and so nice to come home to!
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Tree ferns were among my greatest delights on our two visits two NZ.
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I’m glad to know you find the tree ferns especially delightful, and I hope there’ll be a third visit for you sometime! I’d certainly love to visit Texas, especially when the masses of wildflowers are at their best 🙂
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We’ll see whether both trips can come true. One of the most popular pictures ever on my blog was of tree ferns from our first visit:
https://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com/2015/03/14/ferns-as-tall-as-trees/
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Gorgeous! And I see you attended the festivities at Waitangi on Waitangi Day, very cool!
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Beautiful 😊
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Thanks Louella, I love tree ferns!
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What a beautiful tree fern! I love seeing them in some of the gardens I visit – they are so impressive, especially when the new fronds are unfurling. (Hope I get to see some next year, when I can go garden-visiting again.)
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If their mature fronds overhang lawn, their shadows also look beautiful on the grass 🙂
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I love the shadows of trees – these must be spectacular!
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Exciting colours to paint in these
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What a beautifully fronded fern. Looks a bit like a sensitive plant.
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Yes I get what you mean. Sensitive plants are quite soft foliage aren’t they? I’ve rarely seen them. These are rather coarse to touch but look very pretty!
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