[prakash_mib]

sad that my tasmanian fern tree is dead now  . I am trying replace with low maintanence, good looking, winter hardy fruit tree. Suggestions pls. The place gets sunshine for 6-7 hours in summer and very little in winter. A typical location for tasmanian fern tree 

[scabs]

Have you tried soaking the fern for a few days? I believe that if you immerse them, they will often spring to life.

[corynsboy]

A couple of dwarf root stock pears might fit the bill.  They are UK native trees so you can treat them mean, they and not as fussy and they grow better than cherry and plum trees.  I vaguely remember reading somewhere that some ferns can leave the soil a bit toxic (I might be wrong about this) so before you go and splash cold hard cash on a pear tree I'd make sure that something will grow in the hole left by your fern.

I have two dwarf pears on my perennials plot.  Last year was their first fruiting year and they gave us 10 fruits each.  Large juicy looking golden pears. (which were promptly stolen when we were on holiday)  The trees are at seven feet tall now since November 2007 and need some judicious pruning in autumn but other than that demand no more attention that your average apple tree.  Keep them clean of bugs, feed them occasionally and water them. 

Not sure I'd call pear trees good looking.  You can fan train them or something I guess.  You want good looking? Get your self an Acer, but that's a different forum.