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        • Buchanan’s Native Plants has been serving Houston gardeners since 1986. Located in the historic Houston Heights, the garden center is dedicated to native plants and organic gardening.  You will find the best selections of hardy natives as well as perennials, herbs, vegetables, trees, shrubs & roses — all suited to the Houston climate.

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Home » Plant Library » Trees » Australian Tree Fern
Australian Tree Fern | Cyathea cooperi

Australian Tree Fern

Botanical name: Cyathea cooperi

This fast growing variety produces finely divided, lacy fronds that rise out of the trunk and arch down as they mature; fuzzy brown and white scales cover the trunk and leaf stems; prefers bright shade; a stunning accent or container plant.

Other names: Lacy Tree Fern, Scaly Tree Fern

  • Characteristics
  • Features and Attributes
  • Planting and Growing

Characteristics

Hardiness zone 8b
Foliage type evergreen
Plant form arching
Mature height 20 feet
Spread 12 feet
Light requirements

full sun to partial shade

Moisture requirements

average to moist

Plant origin import

Ornamental Features

Australian Tree Fern has attractive green foliage which emerges chartreuse in spring. The large ferny bipinnately compound leaves are highly ornamental and remain green throughout the winter. Neither the flowers nor the fruit are ornamentally significant. The rough brown bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Australian Tree Fern is an open evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a shapely form and gracefully arching branches. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Australian Tree Fern is recommended for the following landscape applications;

Accent, General Garden Use, Container Planting

Planting and Growing

Australian Tree Fern will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 feet. It has a high canopy of foliage that sits well above the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. As it matures, the lower branches of this tree can be strategically removed to create a high enough canopy to support unobstructed human traffic underneath. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in both summer and winter to conserve soil moisture and protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is not originally from North America.

Australian Tree Fern is a fine choice for the yard, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

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Buchanan’s Native Plants
611 East 11th Street
Houston, Texas 77008

713-861-5702

Hours: 9 am – 6 pm
Open Every Day – Monday – Sunday

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