New Zealand Medallion Series - Silver Fern

New Zealand is a place that combines beautiful native forests with endless beaches, snow clad mountain ranges and unique geothermal activity, all of which can now be taken home. The Medallion Series features iconic Kiwi landmarks, attractions, plants and birds that make New Zealand the unique place it is. Containing a stunning coloured medallion, the series also features beautiful images along with interesting facts and information.

About the Design 

The Silver Fern, also known as the Ponga is the most well-known of New Zealand’s tree ferns due to its status as a national symbol. The reason for its name is immediately obvious upon looking at the underside of the fronds which are a pure white or silver.

Found throughout New Zealand, the silver fern flourishes in sheltered locations where it forms a sub canopy. Growing up to 10 meters in height, the fern has a brown trunk out of which fronds grow at more or less right angles. These may reach up to 4 meters in length and 1.2 meters in width. The fronds grow with amazing perfection and regularity at the astonishing rate of up to 25 millimeters a day.

Traditionally the fronds were often used by Maori as bedding to sleep on due to their fine texture and lack of hair. The under side of the frond has also been used at times as a track marker due to its luminescent quality.

The iconic image of the silver fern is very much associated with New Zealand, from sporting teams through to packaged food products. It is the name of the national netball team along with famously appearing on the rugby jersey of the All Blacks.