- Topics: Shrubs Fact Sheets | Cyatheaceae (taxonomic family) | Ferns
Publication #FPS-557
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Australian Tree Fern1
Edward F. Gilman, Dennis G. Watson, Ryan W. Klein, Andrew K. Koeser, Deborah R. Hilbert, and Drew C. McLean2
Introduction
The Australian tree fern is a tropical, single-trunked, giant fern that can reach a height of 15 to 30 feet. It has long, bipinnately compound, lacy leaves that give it a fine texture. The 1- to 1 ½-foot-long leaves form a handsome canopy and impart a tropical effect. The fern produces one trunk that is woolly or russet in appearance, and it may attain a diameter of 1 foot. This plant reproduces by spores found on the undersides of mature leaves.
Full Form—Sphaeropteris cooperi: Australian tree fern
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
General Information
Scientific name: Sphaeropteris cooperi
Pronunciation: spheer-rop-TEER-riss KOOP-per-rye
Common name(s): Australian tree fern
Family: Cyatheaceae
Plant type: tree
USDA hardiness zones: 10B through 11 (Figure 2)
Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year round
Origin: native to eastern Queensland and northern New South Wales, Australia
UF/IFAS Invasive Assessment Status: not considered a problem species at this time, may be recommended
Uses: near a deck or patio; specimen; border; suitable for growing indoor
Figure 2.
Shaded area represents potential planting range.
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Description
Height: 15 to 30 feet
Spread: 8 to 15 feet
Plant habit: upright
Plant density: open
Growth rate: slow
Texture: fine
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: whorled
Leaf type: odd-pinnately compound
Leaf margin: entire
Leaf shape: lanceolate
Leaf venation: none, or difficult to see
Leaf type and persistence: evergreen
Leaf blade length: 1 to 1½ feet; leaflets are < 2 inches
Leaf color: green on top, pale green underneath
Fall color: no fall color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Figure 3.
Leaf—Sphaeropteris cooperi: Australian tree fern
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Fiddlehead—Sphaeropteris cooperi: Australian tree fern
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Flower
Flower color: no flowers
Flower characteristic: no flowers
Fruit
Fruit shape: no fruit
Fruit length: no fruit
Fruit cover: no fruit
Fruit color: no fruit
Fruit characteristic: no fruit
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/branches: no thorns; usually with one stem/trunk
Bark: brown, fibrous, with oval leaf scars in a diagonal pattern around the trunk
Current year stem/twig color: not applicable
Current year stem/twig thickness: not applicable
Figure 5.
Bark—Sphaeropteris cooperi: Australian tree fern
Credit:Gritta Hasing
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]
Culture
Light requirement: full shade
Soil tolerances: acidic; sand; loam; clay; well-drained
Drought tolerance: unknown
Soil salt tolerances: poor
Aerosol salt tolerance: poor
Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches
Other
Roots: usually not a problem
Winter interest: no special winter interest
Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental features and could be planted more
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests
Use and Management
Australian tree fern is delightful as a specimen plant in a shaded garden. It is often planted around a shaded pool or small pond for the double image created on the water. This is a wonderful landscape plant where winter temperatures do not drop below freezing. It is sure to illicit a comment from friends and passersby.
Australian tree fern prefers fertile, well-drained, sandy loam soils. An area in the landscape that receives partial to full shade is best. This plant requires regular moisture, and it needs light fertilizing at regular intervals during the growing season.
Australian tree fern is propagated by sowing the spores found on the undersides of mature leaves.
Pests and Diseases
Australian tree fern is bothered by mites and mealy bugs, and termites may inhabit its trunk. It usually resists diseases.
Reference
Koeser, A. K., Hasing, G., Friedman, M. H., and Irving, R. B. 2015. Trees: North & Central Florida. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Footnotes
This document is FPS-557, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date October 1999. Revised December 2019. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.
Edward F. Gilman, professor emeritus, Environmental Horticulture Department; Dennis G. Watson, former associate professor, Agricultural Engineering Department; Ryan W. Klein, graduate assistant, Environmental Horticulture Department; Andrew K. Koeser, assistant professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center; Deborah R. Hilbert, graduate assistant, Environmental Horticulture Department, GCREC; and Drew C. McLean, biological scientist, Environmental Horticulture Department, GCREC; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other UF/IFAS Extension publications, contact your county's UF/IFAS Extension office.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A & M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, dean for UF/IFAS Extension.
