The Lacy Tree Fern ( Cyathea cooperi ) is a tall fern, whose trunk can reach great heights in the warmer habitats of New South Wales and Queensland, where it is native. However, they are commonly much smaller outside of their natural climate. This species is fast growing and can cope in the cooler temperate zones as long as it is protected from temperatures below -2°C. The Lacy Tree Fern has been reported growing naturally as far inland as the Blue Mountains, NSW.
It is a very popular species in home gardens or parks for its ornamental value and is highly cultivated. Cyathea cooperi must be propagated by spores, it can not be grown as a cut off trunk like some other ferns.
Growth
The trunk of the Cyathea cooperi is recognised by the circular beige coloured scales on its trunk, which are scars from previous fronds. The trunk can reach heights of up to 12 metres but are usually between 2-6 metres in many instances. This species has a slender trunk in comparison to its height which is generally around 15-20 cm’s wide.
The Lacy Tree Fern gets its common name from its bright green, lacy looking fronds. Its fronds can grow as long as 4-5 metres and are quite densely leaved, which provide up to a 10 metre spread of stunning canopy. Cyathea cooperi grows best in warmer humid rainforests, where it is shaded by larger trees, dappled shade is fine. It can tolerate colder climates and will grow in temperate zones but must be protected from cold winds and frost. Frost will damage the young fronds, that can easily be removed and will be replaced, however temperatures below -5°C will kill this fern.
FAMILY:
Cyatheaceae
CLIMATE:
Temperate to Tropical
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
-2 to 38°C / 28 to 100°F
SOIL TYPE:
Rich, moist but not boggy soils.
LOCATION:
Full Shade – Dappled Shade
HEIGHT:
Up to 12 metres (40 feet)
WIDTH:
Up to 10 metres (32 feet)
pH:
5.5-7.0
GROWTH TYPE:
Evergreen, Fast Growing
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Medium.
POLLINATION:
Spores form on the underside of the fronds, which have both male and female organisms present.
MATURITY:
2-5 years
GERMINATION RATES:
70-82%
GERMINATION TIME:
Germination process will usually begin around 2-6 weeks, however it may be many months before they start to look like little ferns.
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Too many to count – well into the hundreds of thousands.
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
No
WEED POTENTIAL:
Yes, is invasive in Hawaii & Mauritius
FACTS ABOUT CYATHEA COOPERI (Lacy Tree Fern)
Although it is not frost tolerant and its fronds may freeze and die away in those conditions, the Lacy Tree Fern’s fronds will generally begin to grow back once the weather improves in Spring.
The Lacy Tree Fern has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s; Award of Garden Merit.
This species has another synonym that is a little more of a mouthful; Sphaeropteris cooperi. Other names for the Lacy Tree Fern are Cooper’s Tree Fern, Scaly Tree Fern and Australian Tree Fern.
