Giant Gunnera and Tree Ferns
There’s a cool little stretch in Golden Gate Park called Tree Fern Dell, across the street from the Conservatory of Flowers. It’s filled with Australian tree ferns (Dicksonia antarctica) and Giant gunnera (Gunnera manicata) and a nice mix of plants I’d imagine in a dinosaur garden. Definitely one of my favorite spots in the park when the gunnera is in full force.
Foxy fuchsia
Back in the good old days (pre-1980′s) before the fuchsia gall mite arrived, I’ve heard that fuchsias were even more abundant in the Bay Area. There are some mite resistant varieties out there. Fuchsia loves the weather in SF.
More jungle fun
According to a dude named Donovan Tree Fern Dell was, “Used in the final scene of Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan, where Spock’s coffin landed on the Genesis Planet.”
Bear's Breeches (Acanthus mollis)
Another water lover. Matti has a cutting that lives (sadly) in a pot. I won’t let him put it in the ground fearing we’ll never be able to get rid of it. The snails seem to love it too.
Australian tree fern
According to Donovan, some of these tree ferns date all the way back to 1898.
May 31, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Hello,
Beautiful park and some tree ferns are very old. 1898 it’s very old.
May 31, 2010 at 11:12 pm
I love that area. The tree ferns are so old the trunks have become downright wooden. Have you visited the Fuchsia Dell, sort of northwest of the Conservatory? Unfortunately, I’ve never found it as bloggable as this area.
June 1, 2010 at 7:12 am
Fuchsia Dell!!!!! Never even heard of it, but I’m a fuchsia fan! I’ll have to take a look next time I’ve over there.
June 1, 2010 at 4:19 am
aloha,
this has always been one of my favorite spots in golden gate park, the ferns are so spectacular and the gunneras are soooo huge too! I will make it a point when i come to visit again next week!
June 1, 2010 at 7:16 am
The gunneras are getting huge! Enjoy your trip to the bay area next week
June 4, 2010 at 9:54 am
wow what an amazing garden, almost pre-historic. I can totally imagine it being used in Star Trek. Wish I had room for a Gunnera..
June 9, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Those tree ferns are just beautiful. I love tree ferns so much that I tried growing them in our garden. But they may not be suited to our place, they didn’t survive.
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February 20, 2011 at 6:41 am
Lovely photos, Megan – your tree fern species, though, is very definitely Dicksonia antarctica (not Cyathea cooperi).
February 20, 2011 at 8:24 am
Thanks Steve, you’re right! Just updated it
March 29, 2011 at 1:54 pm
Fantastic site, could really do with some advice on my tree fern, although I fear the worst. It has been suffering… I have attached a link, i do hope you don’t mind. http://innercitybuddha.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/please-help-me-save-my-tree-fern/
Kind regards
ICB x