Cyathea smithii

Cyathea Smithii needs total shelter from wind, sun and frost and can be prone to drying out.
It produces masses of very soft and delicate looking fronds which spread horizontally from the crown and reach 2 - 2.5m in length. The trunk is covered in chestnut colored scales, and while it can reach up to 8m in height is fairly slow growing. The old fronds hang down to form a skirt around the trunk, which helps protect it from pests and maintain some humidity.

Similar plants:

• Cyathea australis, Alsophila australis (Rough Tree Fern)
• Cyathea contaminans (Blue Tree Fern)
• Cyathea cooperi, Sphaeropteris cooperi (Australian Tree fern, Hapuu Fern)
• Cyathea dealbata, Alsophila tricolor (Silver Tree Fern, Ponga)
• Cyathea medullaris (Mamaku, Black Tree Fern)
• Cyathea princeps, Cyathea bourgaei, Sphaeropteris horrida (Tree Fern, Palma de Montana)
• Cyathea quindiuensis, Sphaeropteris quindiuensis (Helecho Arboreo )
• Cyathea sp. (Tree Fern)