East Indian holly fern

Sun

Partial to full shade; protect from hot afternoon sun and drying winds.

Water

Keep evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water during dry spells, especially while establishing and when grown in containers.

Soil

Humus-rich, well-drained soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral; avoid sites that remain wet in winter.

Height

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Foliage

Evergreen. Glossy, deep green, divided fronds with pointed, leathery leaflets. Commonly cultivated forms have a conspicuous pale yellow band along the centre of the leaflets.

Growth

Slow

Care needed

Low

• Deer resistant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.1 ft (0.33 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.2 ft (0.36 m)

4. After 3 years

   1.3 ft (0.39 m)

5. After 5 years

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant with the crown at soil level in a sheltered, shaded position.
• Water deeply when the soil begins to dry; do not leave the roots standing in water.
• Apply leaf mould or compost each spring, keeping it clear of the crown.
• Feed container plants lightly in spring; plants in compost-enriched garden soil usually need little extra fertiliser.
• Leave healthy fronds in place over winter and protect the root area with loose mulch in colder gardens.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, cut dead or badly damaged fronds at their base before new growth unfurls. Retain healthy evergreen fronds and avoid cutting emerging shoots.

Early spring

Remove winter-damaged fronds before the new croziers open.

Spring

Plant or divide established clumps, then water thoroughly.

Late spring

Top-dress with compost or leaf mould, leaving the crown uncovered.

Summer

Check soil moisture during dry weather and watch young fronds for slug damage.

Autumn

Clear heavy accumulations of fallen leaves from the crown and check that drainage remains free.

Winter

Shelter containers from severe frost and cold winds; keep the compost slightly moist.

• Plant beside shaded paths where the glossy, patterned fronds can be seen closely.
• Combine with hostas and barrenworts for contrasting leaf shapes in woodland borders.
• Use in sheltered courtyard containers with reliable watering and good drainage.
• Repeat small groups beneath deciduous shrubs for evergreen structure without a tall ground layer.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Japanese, Modern courtyard, Green on green, Secret garden and Winter interest.

Plant it with: Hostas, Barrenworts, Japanese painted fern, Hellebores, Japanese forest grass and Siberian bugloss.

Wildlife: Provides low shelter for small invertebrates. It produces no flowers or nectar, so it is not a direct food source for pollinating insects.

• Slugs and snails can damage emerging fronds; inspect during damp evenings, remove pests and use wildlife-conscious controls if needed.
• Brown, scorched leaflets usually indicate strong sun, dry soil or drying wind; improve shelter and maintain even moisture.
• Crown or root rot can follow waterlogging; improve drainage and keep mulch away from the crown.
• Winter cold can brown otherwise evergreen fronds; retain them until late winter, then remove damaged growth before new shoots emerge.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, but species-specific safety information is limited. No particular part is established as poisonous; it is not an edible fern, so discourage eating the fronds or rhizomes.

• Japanese holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum)

  Has a single row of broad, sickle-shaped leaflets on each side of the frond stalk, rather than the more finely divided fronds of East Indian holly fern.

• East Indian shield fern (Arachniodes aristata)

  Usually has larger, more finely divided, lacy fronds and lacks the conspicuous pale central bands seen in commonly sold forms of East Indian holly fern.

The botanical epithet simplicior means 'simpler', referring to its relatively less-divided fronds.

Propagation. Divide a mature clump in spring, keeping several growing points and a good root system on each piece. It can also be raised from spores, but this is slow and offspring may not retain the parent's yellow markings.

Accepted botanical name

Arachniodes simplicior

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Japan, Korea, Tibet and Vietnam.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.