Silver Ferns
One of Ten New Zealand Tree Ferns

Silver Fern Fronds

Reflection in Raindrop

Fern Frond

Photo courtesy of Sandy Austin

Silver Ferns these are tall growing tree ferns. They belong to the specie Cyathea dealbata of the family Cyatheaceae. Commonly Maoris named them ponga. The fern grows throughout the North -, South -, and Chatham Island from sea level to 600 metre. It reaches a hight from ten metres. The silver- white under site gave them their name. Young fern fronds resemble the form koru, are brown, and hairy before they unfurl. Unfurling and aging the surface becomes smooth with a greyish colour positioned horizontally to the trunk. Old leaves are scattered beneath the tree. Evergreen and non flowering, new plants grow after releasing the sori and spores that are on the leaves under site.

Astonishing is the fern variety in size from 1 inch ground covering ones to as high as 10 metre tall tree fern. New Zealand is home to more than 190 fern species of these ten grow to trees. Eight of these ten and a third of all species are endemic to New Zealand. More than one hundred fern species grow in the Waitakere Ranges. The presence of such an abundance on ferns caused writer often to describe New Zealand as the land of ferns.

The use of ponga stem in everyday life was to build storerooms and fences. The leaves piled up softened beds, or served to create shelter, and with the silver site up they marked paths during the night. Popular by Maori artists was the form koru as symbol of new beginnings in tattoos and carvings.

At the beginning of the 20th century small plants were object for trade. Maori woman used them to pay for clothing. Tradespeople shipped them as exotic plants to England where they were grown in glass houses. In their country of origin houses and verandas were decorated with fronds for festive occasions.

Today these trees are still popular for their shadow and their decorative qualities. Meanwhile leaf and koru are objects for a wide range of logos and products that identify unofficially New Zealand. Two sport teams are well known examples. First the national rugby team with a white silver fern leaf on black ground. The second one is the women’s netball team. They adopted the name silver fern.

New Zealand artists gain a wealth of inspiration of its form which is implemented in paintings, carvings in bone and greenstone, sculptures in stone, wood, and photographs. The hard wooden tree trunk is turned into eye catching souvenirs that impress with distinct pattern.

• Ponga wood craft gifts
• Tree pictures of ferns and details
• Koru motif in unique gift ideas


• Boneart has traditional and contemporary carvings of the highest quality

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