The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
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New Zealand tree ferns

Unfurling fronds, or koru, of Cyathea dealbata (left) and Dicksonia squarrosa (right). © Leon Perrie
Unfurling fronds, or koru, of Cyathea dealbata (left) and Dicksonia squarrosa (right). © Leon Perrie, © Leon Perrie.

There are two main groups of tree ferns in New Zealand: Cyathea and Dicksonia.  They are easily distinguished since Cyathea is scaly and Dicksonia is hairy.

There are seven Cyathea species native to New Zealand.  Five are endemic to New Zealand, with Cyathea cunninghamii also occurring in Australia and C. medullaris being recognised from several Pacific Islands.  Two of the New Zealand species are confined to the subtropical Kermadec Islands: C. kermadecensis and C. milnei.  An Australian species, C. cooperi, has been recorded as a weed in New Zealand.  Sometimes several genera of scaly tree ferns are recognised alongside a more narrowly-circumscribed Cyathea, in which case the New Zealand species are placed in Alsophila except for C. medullaris which is placed in Sphaeropteris. 

There are three Dicksonia species native to New Zealand.  Additionally, New Zealand is the only home of Loxsoma, which is related to tree ferns but does not form a trunk.

The most frequently seen species of tree fern in New Zealand are Cyathea dealbata (silver fern), C. medullaris (mamaku), C. smithii (katote), and Dicksonia squarrosa (wheki).

Tree ferns are colloquially known in New Zealand as “pungas”.  This appears to be an English corruption of “ponga”, a name specific to Cyathea dealbata (silver fern).  Most punga trunks for sale are not actually ponga but wheki (Dicksonia squarrosa). If you want to make a wall of tree fern trunks that have a reasonable chance of coming back to life, ask for wheki.

Is part of topic Ferns
Cyathea colensoi

Cyathea colensoi

mountain tree fern. A trunkless tree fern that grows at high altitudes in the North Island but reaches the lowlands in the South Island. more>

Cyathea cunninghamii

Cyathea cunninghamii

gully tree fern. Is widespread in the North Island, and scattered on the northern and western coasts of the South Island. Looks like a slender-trunked Cyathea medullaris but has shorter fronds and thinner frond stems. more>

Cyathea dealbata

Cyathea dealbata

silver fern, ponga. Occurs throughout the North Island, and in the north and east of the South Island. Easily recognised by the white undersides of its fronds. more>

Cyathea medullaris

Cyathea medullaris

mamaku, black tree fern. Occurs throughout the North Island, and in the north and west of the South Island. Recognised by its thick, black frond stems, and long, arching fronds. New Zealand’s tallest tree fern. more>

Cyathea smithii

Cyathea smithii

katote, Smith’s tree fern. Occurs at medium to higher altitudes in the North Island, and is throughout the South Island where it extends to the lowlands. Recognised by its retention of dead frond stems as a ‘skirt’ around its trunk. more>

Dicksonia fibrosa

Dicksonia fibrosa

wheki-ponga. Widespread but only common in the central North Island. Easily recognised by its retention of a ‘skirt’ of dead fronds around its trunk. The trunk can become very thick. more>

Dicksonia lanata

Dicksonia lanata

stumpy tree fern. Occurs through much of the North Island and on the northern west coast of the South Island. Plants from northern populations produce a short trunk, but southern populations are trunkless. more>

Dicksonia squarrosa

Dicksonia squarrosa

wheki. Common throughout New Zealand, particularly in wet habitats. Often has a scruffy appearance. he frond stalks are bristly-hairy, dark-brown, and comparatively long. Most “punga” trunks for sale are D. squarrosa. more>

Loxsoma cunninghamii

Loxsoma cunninghamii

Although related to tree ferns, does not form a trunk. Occurs in Northland, Auckland, and Coromandel. Recognised by its reproductive structures which are held in cup-like structures. more>

Other New Zealand ferns that can form trunks

Other New Zealand ferns that can form trunks

Although not related to tree ferns, several other fern species in New Zealand can form short trunks. more>

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