About Us - the Tree Fern Specialists of Tasmania

About Fernmnia

Fernmania is a family-run business based in North-East Tasmania, built around a genuine passion for plants, landscape and the long-term care of Dicksonia antarctica. Owned and operated by Bert and Ruth, Fernmania is not just a nursery - it is a living environment shaped by the very plants they grow and protect.
 
Across the property, mature Dicksonia antarctica grow naturally throughout the landscape. They form boundaries, provide shade over dams and contribute to the balance of the environment. These ferns are not separate from the business — they are part of the system that supports it.
 
A Living Landscape

Water is carefully managed through a series of dams that capture and store rainfall. These dams not only support agricultural production but also provide habitats for local wildlife.Frogs are a common presence, and even a resident platypus has made a home within the waterways. This reflects the kind of environment Fernmania maintains — one where plant life and wildlife coexist naturally.
 
The tree ferns themselves contribute to this ecosystem. Their shade, moisture retention and structure help create a cool, stable environment across the property.
 
Sustainability in Practice

Sustainability at Fernmania is not a slogan — it is part of how the business operates every day. Dicksonia antarctica are grown on site, and wherever possible, existing plants are carefully relocated rather than lost. Fernmania specialises in saving tree ferns from areas where they would otherwise be destroyed through land clearing or development.
 
Cuttings, offcuts and natural materials are reused throughout the nursery. Even sections of the tree fern base can be propagated or repurposed, ensuring that as much of each plant as possible continues its life cycle. This approach reduces waste and supports the long-term availability of these slow-growing plants.
 
Supplying Landscapes Around the World

Fernmania supplies Dicksonia antarctica to nurseries, landscapers and large-scale projects both within Australia and internationally.
 
Their ferns have been used in significant projects, including the Chelsea Australian Garden at Olinda, inspired by the award-winning Chelsea Flower Show design, as well as international landscape installations such as Singapore’s Changi Airport.
In each case, the aim is the same - to provide high-quality tree ferns that bring structure, shade and a natural forest character to the landscape.
 
Plants That Are Valued

Many of the tree ferns supplied by Fernmania are relocated and given a second life in gardens and landscapes where they are appreciated and cared for. Some of the relocated plants would otherwise be destroyed by forestry and logging operations. 
These are not disposable plants. They are long-lived, slow-growing and often become defining features in the spaces they are placed.
 
Fernmania works with clients who understand this value — from private gardeners through to landscape architects and public garden designers.
 
A Long-Term Approach

Dicksonia antarctica can live for decades, even centuries. The work at Fernmania reflects that same long-term thinking.
By combining cultivation, relocation and careful environmental management, Fernmania continues to support the future of these unique plants while sharing them with landscapes around the world.