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Monty Don shared an Instagram image captioned “Dicksonia corner,” showing tree ferns of varying heights in a shaded part of his garden. An Ideal Home report says the plants can add height and foliage to shady borders, but need consistently moist soil and may not keep their leaves through colder UK winters.
The report identifies the plants as tree ferns, or Dicksonia, and describes Don’s arrangement as a layered planting scheme. Their broad fronds can create a strong vertical presence and help fill a darker border, though the article does not identify the varieties or number of plants in the photograph.
Garden designer Gary Farrell, founder of outdoor furniture brand Nth Degree, told Ideal Home that tree ferns bring “lushness and scale” to shadier corners. He said their architectural fronds add depth and that they can perform well in the dappled light found in many UK gardens. Those are his design observations, rather than results from a comparative plant trial.
The practical qualification is water. Ideal Home says tree ferns prefer consistently moist soil and suggests using mulch around the base to help retain moisture. The report also says they are hardy down to -5°C, while noting they remain evergreen in milder parts of the UK. That temperature figure should not be read as a guarantee of year-round foliage in every location or growing condition.
Adding Height to Shady Borders
For gardeners trying to make use of a darker corner, tree ferns offer a way to add height and substantial foliage without relying on sun-loving flowering plants. Their layered fronds can also provide screening, according to the Ideal Home report, making them relevant to borders where gardeners want more visual cover.
The image is an example of a planting idea, not evidence that tree ferns will thrive in every shaded garden. Their suitability depends on whether the site can meet their moisture needs and whether local winter conditions are mild enough for foliage to persist. Gardeners weighing the effect against the upkeep should account for regular attention to soil moisture.
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The Image Behind the Advice
Ideal Home’s report uses a photo from Monty Don’s Instagram page, captioned “Dicksonia corner,” as its starting point. It describes the setting as a shadier area and notes that the ferns appear at varying heights. The article’s wider point is that shade does not rule out large-scale foliage planting.
The report also mentions a Dicksonia antarctica log sold by YouGarden with specialist tree fern feed. YouGarden says new fronds will unfurl within weeks, but that is the retailer’s claim as reported by Ideal Home; the source does not provide growing conditions, a guarantee, or independent verification of the timeframe.
““Tree ferns bring a lushness and scale that few other plants can match, especially in shadier corners where most flowering plants struggle.””
— Gary Farrell, designer and founder of Nth Degree, quoted by Ideal Home
Care and Winter Limits
The source does not give the Instagram post’s exact date, identify the conditions in Don’s garden, or specify the tree ferns’ ages and varieties. It also does not establish how much watering they need in different soils or weather. The stated -5°C hardiness and evergreen description are broad guidance in the report, not a site-specific forecast; gardeners should check the needs of the plant they buy and local conditions.
It is also unclear whether the YouGarden claim that new fronds appear within weeks applies to all plants or only under particular growing conditions. The report does not provide independent evidence for that timescale.
Planning a Moisture-Retaining Planting
Gardeners considering the look can first check whether their intended spot is shaded or dappled and whether its soil can be kept consistently moist. Ideal Home recommends mulching around the base to conserve moisture. Its report also lists soaking the fern trunk before planting, alongside a tub and digging spade, as part of the planting preparation described for its product recommendations.
Anyone buying a tree fern should follow the supplier’s planting and care directions and confirm its suitability for local winter conditions. The source gives no announcement of a new gardening project or further update from Don; the development reported here is the inspiration drawn from his Instagram photograph.
Key Questions
What did Monty Don share?
He shared an Instagram image captioned “Dicksonia corner”, showing tree ferns at varying heights in what Ideal Home describes as a shadier part of his garden.
Why use tree ferns in a shady garden?
The report says their large, architectural fronds can add height, foliage and screening to shaded borders. Designer Gary Farrell told Ideal Home they bring scale and depth to such spaces.
What care do tree ferns need?
Ideal Home says they prefer consistently moist soil and suggests mulching around the base to help conserve moisture. Follow the care instructions for the particular plant and growing site.
Will tree ferns stay evergreen throughout the UK winter?
The report says they are hardy down to -5°C and evergreen in milder parts of the UK. It does not guarantee year-round foliage in every location or under all conditions.
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