why do i have a different tree growing out of the trunk of a tree fern and what could it be ?
kent,
United Kingdom 
sorry i have no pics i am working on it tho the fern is about 5ft and the tree growing out of it is about 10ft and about 1 an half inches round is not a tree i have seen before the leaves close up at night can anyone help ! i am new to using pc so will get pics asap x x it seems to be growing from the side of the trunk x
15 Sep, 2009
Answers
Definitely need a pix
15 Sep, 2009
It is not unusual to see a birch or rowan seedling growing in humus lodged in the fork of any mature tree. The tree fern has lots of nooks and crannies for a seed to lodge into.
15 Sep, 2009
Depending on where the tree fern came from - usually the antipodean countries, it may be an acacia growing from the side of the trunk. I have a tree fern which has a 5' high trunk then the leaves on top and I have an acacia longiflora (I think) growing from the bottom of the tree fern trunk. There was an acacia seedling growing half way up the hairy trunk, but I hooked that out. The acacia is growing really fast and I'm not too sure if the tree fern will suffer in the end, I will cut down the acacia because in terms of cost the tree fern will be the most expensive to replace. I cannot remove the acacia because it is really imbedded and they hate being moved so we will just have to see. I was going to post the exact same question as you but I may get the help I need from here x
16 Sep, 2009
agree with last one - I had a tiny seedling in the side of my tree fern (from Tasmania) which I plucked out & am growing in a pot. It looks acacia/mimosa-like, but I don't know for sure. The leaves close up at night too. Anyway, has grown so quickly in a pot that it would be sure to be embedded too far by now in the tree fern
17 Sep, 2009
Have been looking at my potted seedling & as the leaves close at night it might be a Albizia julibrissin, aka Persian silk tree or pink siris. Mine hasn't flowered yet, but they have pink fluffy-looking flowers, a bit bottle-brush like but shorter. Just re-read your post & it's huge! Reckon you'd have a problem separating them....
30 Sep, 2009
take a look at my blog, you will see the acacia longiflora growing out of the side of my tree fern!
http://www.growsonyou.com/AndreaRichter/blog/6643-it-s-been-a-while-new-border-in-back-garden
30 Sep, 2009
Need a photo - you may have something else which has rooted and grown in the centre of the trunk of your tree fern
15 Sep, 2009