Sphaeropteris Species, Soft New Guinea Tree Fern
Sphaeropteris tomentosissima
| Family: | Cyatheaceae |
| Genus: | Sphaeropteris (sfay-ROP-teris) (Info) |
| Species: | tomentosissima (to-men-to-SIS-see-ma) (Info) |
| Synonym: | Cyathea tomentosissima |
Category:
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Ferns
Water Requirements:
Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade
Light Shade
Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Evergreen
Foliage Color:
Height:
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
Spacing:
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Where to Grow:
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Inconspicuous/none
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
N/A
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From spores
Seed Collecting:
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Houston, Texas
Gardeners' Notes:
| Rating | Content |
|---|---|
| Positive | On Jan 20, 2022, HoustonPat from Houston, TX wrote: I've been growing this plant in a plastic pot. potted up from 1 gallon to 5 gallon at first, then potted up to 15 gallon. Houston, being warm and humid in general, with a few cold day and nights each winter, I've been protecting it from frost, though it may take a bit without problem. It has grown rather fast, as I have fertilized it well. Quite a beautiful fern; different looking. The rhizome is just starting to trunk up. |
| Positive | On Jan 20, 2022, HoustonPat from Houston, TX wrote: I've been growing this plant in a plastic pot. potted up from 1 gallon to 5 gallon at first, then potted up to 15 gallon. Houston, being warm and humid in general, with a few cold day and nights each winter, I've been protecting it from frost, though it may take a bit without problem. It has grown rather fast, as I have fertilized it well. Quite a beautiful fern; different looking. The rhizome is just starting to trunk up. |
| Positive | On Jan 20, 2022, HoustonPat from Houston, TX wrote: I've been growing this plant in a plastic pot. potted up from 1 gallon to 5 gallon at first, then potted up to 15 gallon. Houston, being warm and humid in general, with a few cold day and nights each winter, I've been protecting it from frost, though it may take a bit without problem. It has grown rather fast, as I have fertilized it well. Quite a beautiful fern; different looking. The rhizome is just starting to trunk up. |
| Positive | On Jan 20, 2022, HoustonPat from Houston, TX wrote: I've been growing this plant in a plastic pot. potted up from 1 gallon to 5 gallon at first, then potted up to 15 gallon. Houston, being warm and humid in general, with a few cold day and nights each winter, I've been protecting it from frost, though it may take a bit without problem. It has grown rather fast, as I have fertilized it well. Quite a beautiful fern; different looking. The rhizome is just starting to trunk up. |
| Positive | On Jan 20, 2022, HoustonPat from Houston, TX wrote: I've been growing this plant in a plastic pot. potted up from 1 gallon to 5 gallon at first, then potted up to 15 gallon. Houston, being warm and humid in general, with a few cold day and nights each winter, I've been protecting it from frost, though it may take a bit without problem. It has grown rather fast, as I have fertilized it well. Quite a beautiful fern; different looking. The rhizome is just starting to trunk up. |
| Neutral | On Apr 21, 2007, Cretaceous from El Sobrante, CA (Zone 9b) wrote: Cyathea tomentosissima is native to New Guinea. |
| Neutral | On Jul 6, 2005, txstl from Austin, TX wrote: This fern was new to me as well. I'm trying it out in large pot with mixed sun and shade throughout the day. Trying out new plants in late June in Austin in tough. Watering roughly every 3 days but too many 100+ days in a row are making it difficult for me to judge how much water it really needs. If it this fern makes it in my yard it will have my blessing. |
| Neutral | On Aug 2, 2003, palmbob from Acton, CA (Zone 8b) wrote: This is a beautiful new (to me) Cyathea I just discovered this week. It is somewhat bizarre for a Cyathea. A fern grower in Huntington Beach is growing it. It has very stiff leaflets with rough red-brown long hairs on the petioles and stem. |
