Blechnum tabulare
table mountain fern
Southern and eastern Africa and Madagascar
Overview
Blechnum tabulare is a large evergreen fern that forms a stout, upright rootstock or short trunk topped by a rosette of leathery, once-divided fronds 2-4 feet (60-120 cm) long. The fronds are stiff and held upright to arching, with narrow, strap-like segments along a central stalk, deep green above and paler beneath. New fronds emerge flushed bronze-pink from the crown in spring and harden to dark green. Separate fertile fronds carry narrower segments lined with brown spore cases on the undersides. With age the plant builds a fibrous trunk up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall, giving it a tree-fern-like outline. Plants are slow-growing and take several years to reach full size. Blechnum tabulare grows in part shade on consistently moist, acidic, humus-rich soil and tolerates boggy ground at the margins of ponds and streams. The fronds are damaged below about 25F (-4C), so it needs a frost-free or sheltered site in cold regions. Growth stalls and fronds brown in dry soil or full sun. The crown is slow to recover if the rootstock dries out.
Native Range
Blechnum tabulare is native to southern and eastern Africa, Madagascar, and parts of the southern Atlantic islands, where it grows in damp mountain grassland, stream banks, and bog margins. It takes its name from Table Mountain in South Africa.Suggested Uses
Planted at pond and stream margins, in bog gardens, and in sheltered shaded borders, spaced 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 m) apart. Grown as a specimen for its upright, tree-fern-like form in frost-free gardens. Used in containers of acidic compost in colder regions where it can be moved under cover.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2' - 4'
Width/Spread3' - 4'
Reaches mature size in approximately 6 years
Bloom Information
Ferns do not flower. Brown spore cases line the undersides of the narrower fertile fronds and ripen through summer and autumn. New sterile fronds unfurl in flushes from spring onward.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
dark green, bronze-pink when youngGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-6 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in part shade on moist, acidic, humus-rich soil that does not dry out, including the boggy margins of ponds. Water regularly in dry spells, as the fronds brown if the rootstock dries. Mulch the base with leaf mold or composted bark to hold moisture and feed the crown. Old and damaged fronds are cut away in spring before new growth unfurls. In cold regions the crown needs a sheltered, frost-protected site, since growth is damaged below about 25F (-4C). Full sun and dry soil scorch the fronds and stall growth.Pruning
Cut away old, browned, or frost-damaged fronds at the base in spring before the new fronds emerge. The evergreen fronds are otherwise left in place. No other pruning is needed.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons