Cyrtomium fortunei
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sir-TOH-mee-um for-TOO-nee-eye
- Description
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Japanese holly fern is an evergreen, herbaceous perennial fern in the polypody family (Polypodiaceae). Its region of origin is Eastern Himalaya to Korea and Indo-China. The species epithet honors famed 19th-century Scottish plant hunter Robert Fortune,
This fern grows in partial to deep shade and needs moist, humus-enriched soil. Too much sun can bleach the fronds. Good soil drainage is essential to prevent root rot. It has been weedy in some areas of the South, so be careful about letting it naturalize. It can grow 1 to 2 feet tall by 1 to 1.5 feet wide.
The leaves of the Japanese holly fern feel leathery and can have several colors ranging from gold/yellow to gray or green.
Japanese Holly fern can be grown in shade and woodland gardens or in any shady or part shady areas with proper soil and drainage conditions. It is resistant to deer and rabbits.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
No serious problems but scale, root rot and fungal spots can occur. Watch for Florida Fern Caterpillar.
VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cyrtomium
- Species:
- fortunei
- Family:
- Polypodiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Himalaya to Korea and Indo-China
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy shade,This plant is seldom damaged by deer or rabbits.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Fronds resemble holly branches, satin, chartreuse, ovate-oblong pinnae with smooth margins; 12-26 pairs of pinnae; lance-shaped and rounded at the base; upright, leathery, gray-green are 2 1/2' long
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Weedy
