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SECOND TRY..sheesh.deleted or lost posts happen alot on web dont they ?
Green,Castro Valley ca 6' clump that was once a 8' clump that had the look of a wave rising up...and that is why I suppose it was pruned down to size. As you can see it gets plenty of water all year. Why,in 20 years mine will be just like that..

Very nice! Thanks for posting...yeah, the 'web' has gobbled up a post or two...

I like the haphazard, full look of that fern.

Around here, some folks grow them thick and wild under decks or in other shady, moist areas; whereas others grow them ornamentally with very long, isolated fronds. I'm not really sure which I prefer. I might keep examples of both in the future.

My goal is to grow my particular fern as large as possible in a pot. I want to find the limits for this variety. Here's an image from much earlier in the year, showing the snow-burn that occurred last winter. All of the fronds were eventually cut away and mulched:
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Josh

I grew this fern in my open garden not my fern house for many years (i was surprised it grew there as we are quite hot in the summer) but have lost and have been unable to buy another in aust for some years as there is not many specialist ferns nursery's around and would be very grateful if I could BUY, BEG or STEaL) some spore??? I am not sure if I can be contacted off forum or how to do so don't mind adding my address clicketychick@hotmail.com

I thnk it is wonderful to be able to see ferns that someone is growing and proud off and not just problem plants. This is very popular and very active part of other forums I belong to "what Blooming" and when I get better at phot0s and find out how to post a pic to this forum I would love to do this!!!!
Regards
Dee in oz

Is it legal to send fern spore to Australia?

I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to
intercontinental plant laws/restrictions. I'd
love to be able to spread these ferns around,
personally.

I'll need to look into spore collection and
transport....after all, what good are unviable spore?

Josh

Hi Josh and all

I get spore from the various fern soc spore banks and send some to same. although now when sending thicker envelopes overseas I am asked by postmaster to put a declaration on envelope and show my drivers liscence which have only had to do in last few years.
Its only illegal to send in seeds etc of prohibited plants and thats normally seed of plants that could become weeds. Ferns aren't on the prohibited list.

I am quite happy to exchange spore

I very much enjoyed the pic of w fimbriata in the wild, it helps when you are deciding on your growing conditions etc/ potting soil etc to know a little of the growing conditions.
Regards
Dee in oz

Thanks, Dee!

I'll share a few more pictures of these giants!
I almost always find them cascading down waterways, such as streams or seeps (from canals/irrigation ditches, et cetera). It's often difficult to properly portray the size of these ferns, due to the fact that I usually hike alone (a human for comparison is best, in my opinion!).

I agree, it really helps to see the native habitat for a plant - when I put together soil for native plants, I try to use the same ingredients found in proximity with healthy wild plants.

Josh

Here's another.
A rather messy plant, but very tall!
(you can see more clumps over its shoulder)

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Hi Josh and all
Another great picture. I didn't think woodwardias liked too much shade??? but this pic looks like its in a fairly heavily covered wood or forrest??? So would you consider it open canopy or heavy shaded??
Thanks
Dee on oz

Good question, Dee.
The two wild ferns are in moderately wooded forest - however, this is a fairly dry area in the summer, so the canopy doesn't grow as close or thick as it might seem from the images. These ferns get good afternoon sunlight, as the canopy opens to the south and the west. As long as they have water, they seem to tolerate a bit of sun.

I'll take a few more images to explore this plant's habitat. I'm hiking out to the Bear River (my old friend) this afternoon.

Josh

First, an update: this is the wild fern from the first post - a bit flattened by rain, but good color, growth, et cetera.
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Second, two images showing this fern's approximate habitat - you can see that a large pine fell a few years ago, which invariably let in more light -
camera facing in an easterly direction:
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Camera facing in a southerly direction:
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Third, an image from higher up the slope, and facing west through an opening: blackberry scramble along the ground, wildgrape vines hanging everywhere (these wildgrapes are fundamental in tearing trees down!)

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After leaving the low-lying areas, I walked along this canal - a scenic mist had risen in the meantime:
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Water seeps from the top of the hill down to the canal, and then seeps again from the canal down to the river. This whole area faces west - strong afternoon exposure, plenty of water. Multiple fimbriatas grow above the canal, along with equisetum hyemale (my favorite rush) -
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A closer view of the fern growing above the canal:
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And, finally, an image of the down-slope. There are a few small fimbriatas growing down there, but it's mostly bracken fern and gigantic equisetum hyemale (isolated rushes with large diameter) -
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Anyhow, I hope these are helpful! Or at least enjoyable!
The rain continues to fall,

Josh

The fern cascading down the bank-a great idea by ma nature. Makes it look even more exotic. Have to keep that in mind for a pond waterfall.Dont plant flat,plant vertical.

Yes! Ma knows best! These ferns definitely cascade and flow down natural slopes and streams! A couple of staggered plants in a yard or wet area would really fill out nicely!
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In other news, my fimbriata suffered a bit of frost-bite a few days ago. Temperature dropped to 18°F one night, and that was too much for my fern (without a mass of other plants to help buff the cold, alas!).

Josh

Update, November '08!
Here we are, a year later...
Next spring, re-potting is a must!
A wider and shallower pot to give this fern room to walk...!
The overall shape isn't as "balanced" this year, but the growth is denser,
and the individual fronds thicker.

Josh

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OMG How I have lusted those ferns. Your pics are all so pretty, especially the scenic ones!
Does anyone have babies of one of these they'd care to share for postage? :D

Paula

Hi, Paula!
Thanks for your interest!
Woodwardia fimbriata is my favorite native fern, and probably my favorite fern overall. Size, color, texture....everything I could ask for!

I was at a local nursery yesterday, and I perused the fern section. There were a few chainferns left. Given your zone, chainferns might be hard to find - they're typically considered a zone 8 plant, and you'd have to protect both it's foliage and its roots. Even here, cold weather frost-burns the fronds. Yet they grow back every year.

Anyhow, I don't have any to send...
I wish I could help you out, as I'd like to see this fern grown in every hospitable location available.

Josh

Here is a link that might be useful: Woodwardia