Tree Fern (Cyathea dealbata)

Family: Cyatheaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Cyathea dealbata is an evergreen Fern growing to 9 m (29ft) by 2 m (6ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist or wet soil.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Leaves, Shoots

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Rich in starch, it is normally roasted but can be eaten raw. — Pith of the stem.; Rich in starch, it is normally roasted but can be eaten raw.; Descriptions of the taste vary from bitter, sweet, astringent and like a bad turnip.; The core of the plant near the growing tip is used, do not confuse this with the trunk of the plant, which is made up of a peaty substance from the decaying roots.

Habitat & North American Range

Lowland to montane forests and shrubland on North, South and Chatham Islands. (Zone 8)