Japanese Holly Fern (Cyrtomium falcatum ‘Rochfordianum’)

Features and Characteristics

Cyrtomium falcatum, commonly called Japanese holly fern, is native to eastern Asia, India, southern Africa and Hawaii. The fronds of this fern resemble holly branches. This is an evergreen fern (deciduous in St. Louis) that typically grows in a dense, vase-shaped clump to 2’ tall. Arching, glossy, dark green fronds (1-5’ long) are noted for their thick, leathery pinnae, which are falcate (sickle-shaped) as the species name suggests. Spores are easily carried by wind, and species plants have escaped gardens and naturalized in certain areas of the southeastern U.S.

Genus name comes from the Greek kyrtos meaning arched in reference to the fern habit.

Specific epithet means sickle-shaped.

‘Rochfordianum’ typically grows to 2′ tall and features vase-shaped fronds (1-5′ long ) with glossy, leathery, coarsely-fringed, holly-like pinnae. Fronds arise from erect, scaly rhizomes.