Sphaeropteris cooperi
An Australian native tree fern with a slender trunk and very long fronds reaching about 12 metres, widely cultivated for ornamental use in moist, well-drained soil under shade.
Common Names
Australian Tree Fern, Lacy Tree Fern, Scaly Tree Fern, Cooper's Tree Fern, Cooper's Cyathea
Summary
Sphaeropteris cooperi, commonly called the Australian tree fern or lacy tree fern, is a large evergreen fern native to eastern Australia (New South Wales and Queensland) with a slender trunk and a broad crown of lacy fronds that can reach 4–6 meters in length and about 15–30 feet tall and wide in cultivation. It prefers shaded or dappled light, consistently moist, well-drained soil, high humidity, and protection from harsh direct sun; frost can damage fronds, so winter protection or container overwintering is common in cooler regions.
Propagation is by spores; in cultivation it tolerates shade and high humidity, and can be grown in containers or indoors in milder climates; keep soil evenly moist and water at the base to prevent crown rot. Pests such as mites and mealybugs may appear, and occasional termites may inhabit the trunk. Sources note naturalization outside Australia and reports of invasive status in parts of Hawaii.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
15-30 feet
Spread
120-144 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 8a–11b
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally partial shade; tolerates full shade.
Soil Type
Moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil (loam or sandy loam)
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil, Moist but well-drained soil, Well-draining loamy soil
Soil pH
5.5-7.0
Bloom Color
Green
Bloom Time
does not bloom in any season
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
Green
Leaf Lifecycle
Other
Growth Rate
Very fast growth, up to about 3 feet per year.
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Propagation Methods
Spores
Attracts Wildlife
No indication of attraction to bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, or birds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (Hook. ex F.Muell.) R.M.Tryon
- Publication
- Contr. Gray Herb. 200: 24 (1970)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Polypodiophyta
- Class
- Polypodiopsida
- Subclass
- Polypodiidae
- Order
- Cyatheales
- Family
- Cyatheaceae
- Genus
- Sphaeropteris
Synonyms
Alsophila hilliana Alsophila cooperi Cyathea cooperi Alsophila australis var. cervicalis Alsophila australis var. pallida Cyathea australis var. cervicalis Cyathea australis var. pallida Alsophila excelsa var. cooperi Cyathea brownii var. cooperi