The Mexican tree fern is producing new fronds in the Life Before Flowers House.
As its common name suggests, Cibotium schiedei originates from Mexico where it grows in coastal wet tropical habitats. Due to its limited distribution it has been designated endangered status by the Mexican government. It is one of several genera of tree ferns from the southern hemisphere, and they all grow in humid conditions beneath the tree canopy. They are amongst the earliest evolving plants, known to date back to the dinosaur era. They have erect, fibrous trunk-like stems, from which emerge the arching, finely divided fronds. The trunk of C. schiedei can reach 5m in height, and the fronds up to 3m in length, and these are arguably at their most appealing as the croziers emerge and unfurl.