Fortune's holly fern

Sun

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

Water

Keep evenly moist while establishing. Established plants tolerate brief dry spells, but prolonged drought causes browning and loss of fronds.

Soil

Humus-rich, well-drained soil that retains some moisture; tolerates acidic, neutral and mildly alkaline conditions.

Height

1.5-2 ft (0.45-0.6 m)

Spread

1.5-2.5 ft (0.45-0.75 m)

Foliage

Evergreen. Arching, leathery fronds with numerous narrow, pointed, dull to pale green leaflets. Round spore clusters develop beneath mature fronds.

Growth

Slow to moderate

Care needed

Low

• Deer resistant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

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

Difficulty

Easy

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

   1.2 ft (0.36 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.4 ft (0.42 m)

4. After 3 years

   1.6 ft (0.47 m)

5. After 5 years

   1.7 ft (0.53 m)

   full size

About 4 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

• Water during dry spells, especially through the first growing season.
• Apply leaf mould or compost around the clump each spring, keeping the crown uncovered.
• Avoid waterlogged sites and containers without drainage holes.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak; rich soil usually needs no additional fertiliser.
• Shelter from cold, drying winds and protect the root zone with mulch near its cold-hardiness limit.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, cut dead and winter-damaged fronds back to their bases before new growth emerges. Leave healthy green fronds in place.

Late winter

Remove damaged fronds before new fronds begin to unfurl.

Spring

Plant or divide established clumps, then water thoroughly.

Spring

Refresh the leaf-mould or compost mulch without covering the crown.

Summer

Water during dry weather and check tender new growth for slug damage.

Autumn

Keep fallen leaves from forming a dense, wet mat over the crown.

Winter

Check that containers drain freely and shelter pots from severe frost and drying winds.

• Plant beneath deciduous trees with other shade plants for contrasting foliage shapes.
• Repeat small groups along shaded paths to create a low, structured edge.
• Use in sheltered courtyard containers where the arching fronds can be seen close up.
• Combine with hostas, hellebores and epimediums in a layered woodland border.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Japanese, Modern courtyard, Green on green, Low-maintenance and Small-space.

Plant it with: Hostas, Hellebores, Epimediums, Brunnera, Japanese forest grass and Snowdrops.

Wildlife: Dense clumps provide shelter for small invertebrates. As a fern, it produces no flowers, nectar or pollen.

• Slugs and snails can chew emerging fronds; inspect at dusk, remove pests and use wildlife-conscious controls where needed.
• Brown or bleached fronds usually indicate strong sun, drought or drying wind; improve shelter and water the root zone.
• Crown and root rot can develop in waterlogged soil; improve drainage and keep mulch away from the crown.
• Winter browning occurs in exposed or cold gardens; leave the crown undisturbed and remove dead fronds before spring growth.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, although species-specific safety information is limited. It is not an edible plant; discourage pets and children from eating the fronds or rhizomes.

Where it spreads. Has escaped cultivation and naturalized in parts of the southeastern United States, where spores can establish plants beyond the garden. Check local guidance before planting near natural woodland.

• Japanese holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum)

  Usually has fewer, broader, darker and noticeably glossier leaflets. Fortune's holly fern has more numerous, narrower leaflets with a duller surface.

The species name honours plant collector Robert Fortune, while the common name refers to its pointed, holly-like leaflets.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in spring, keeping a healthy growing point and roots on each division. It can also be raised from spores, but this is slower and requires consistently humid, clean conditions.

Accepted botanical name

Cyrtomium fortunei

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Assam, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand 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.