The Fern Collection
Taking the path away from the grassed area, after the kauri die-back station and past a large pōhutukawa tree (planted in the 1920s ),that then Ieads through an area of Cordyline, astelias, nīkau and ground ferns down to the fern house.
The Fern House was built by Bill Fisher in the mid 1970's to create the right environment for growing the Prince of Wales feather fern (Leptopteris superba) which needs a damp situation with filtered light. Walking in you will see many filmy ferns on the pōnga wall of the centre garden.
The dark green fronds of the Prince of Wales feather fern are quite unusual and striking. It is found naturally from Mount Te Aroha and Mount Pirongia southward. It was originally discovered by William Colenso in the dense rain forest near Lake Waikaremoana in 1841. Like so many of our New Zealand plants, it is endemic to New Zealand.
A close relative to the Prince of Wales feather fern, Leptopteris hymenophylloides grows naturally in the bush reserves on the North Shore and is established here. Interestingly a hybrid between the two species flourishes on the top path.
The fern house not only contains the prized Prince of Wales feather fern, but other interesting species such as kidney ferns (Trichonanes reniforme) and the dainty Maiden Hair (Adiantum diaphanum).
Leaving the fern house through the other door, looking to the right towards the top of the bank you will see king ferns. The king fern is found in lowland forests from Mangōnui southwards to Taranaki, where its fronds can reach up to four metres long.
There are many other different ferns growing along this pathway near the end of which is a healthy patch of the rare fern, Loxoma cunninghamii.