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Japanese Holly Fern

Cyrtomium Falcatum

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Overview

The Japanese Holly Fern (Cyrtomium falcatum) is renowned for its glossy, dark green, holly-like fronds reaching up to 2 feet in length. It thrives in partial to full shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil with a pH close to neutral. Hardy in USDA zones 6-11, this evergreen fern is ideal for adding texture to shaded landscapes, container gardens, or as a groundcover under larger plants. It's pest and disease-resistant.

Sun Half, ShadeWater High, MediumZones 8–11Type Fern, ShrubClimate Subtropical
Japanese Holly Fern (Cyrtomium Falcatum) — and it performs admirably in shaded rock gardens or borders; botanically termed Cyrtomium falcatum, image 72

Culture

Sun
Half, Shade
Water
High, Medium
USDA zones
8–11

Shape & size

Classification

Type
Fern, Shrub
Family
Polypodiaceae
Climate
Subtropical

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Photos (122)

Japanese Holly Fern (Cyrtomium Falcatum) — holly-like fronds reaching up to 2 feet in length; leathery pinnae (leaflets) that are shaped with a distinctive
Japanese Holly Fern (Cyrtomium Falcatum) — enhanced with organic matter; each frond can reach a length of 18 to 24 inches, image 95
Japanese Holly Fern (Cyrtomium Falcatum) — elegantly unfurling to create a dense
Japanese Holly Fern (Cyrtomium Falcatum) — or as a groundcover under larger plants; it's pest and disease-resistant, image 83
Japanese Holly Fern (Cyrtomium Falcatum) — favoring partial to full shade conditions; additionally, its deer resistance is a valuable trait for gardens in
Japanese Holly Fern (Cyrtomium Falcatum) — this species adds textural contrast owing to its shiny
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Cyrtomium Falcatum
Photographs by 4 contributors

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