''Sphaeropteris cooperi'', synonym ''Cyathea cooperi'', also known as lacy tree fern, scaly tree fern, or Cooper's tree fern, is a

tree fern The tree ferns are arborescent (tree-like) ferns that grow with a trunk elevating the fronds above ground level, making them trees. Many extant tree ferns are members of the order Cyatheales, to which belong the families Cyatheaceae (scaly tree ...

native to Australia, in

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

and

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

Description

''Sphaeropteris cooperi'' is a medium-to-large fast growing tree fern, to in height with a thick trunk. The apex of the trunk and unfurling crosiers are particularly attractive, covered as they are with conspicuous long, silky, straw colored scales. The crown is widely spread and the light green

frond A frond is a large, divided leaf. In both common usage and botanical nomenclature, the leaves of ferns are referred to as fronds and some botanists restrict the term to this group. Other botanists allow the term frond to also apply to the lar ...

s may reach a length of . It can also very rarely be found in the colour of a pale pink with an orange stripe going down the middle. This is extremely rare and can be worth about 2,000 dollars.

Cultivation

''Sphaeropteris cooperi'' is one of the most commonly cultivated tree ferns as an

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that ...

. It is used in gardens and public landscaping. It is hardy and easy to grow. Heavy frosts may kill the fronds, but plants recover quickly. The plant prefers protected, shady moist conditions but can be grown in sunny areas. It does not do well in full sun and must be well watered. It does not grow in its optimal form in full sun. Under its synonym ''Cyathea cooperi'' it has received the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nor ...

's Award of Garden Merit. It is sometimes mislabeled in the nursery industry as "''Cyathea australis''" (a synonym of '' Alsophila australis'').

Habitat

It has naturalised in

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

, and parts of New South Wales where it is not native. It has also naturalized in New Zealand, South Africa, Tanzania, the

Mascarene Islands The Mascarene Islands (, ) or Mascarenes or Mascarenhas Archipelago is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar consisting of the islands belonging to the Republic of Mauritius as well as the French department of Réunion. Their ...

, the

Azores ) , motto =( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace") , anthem= ( en, "Anthem of the Azores") , image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg , map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union , map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...

, Madeira and

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...

, where it is classified as an invasive species.

Gallery

Image:Starr_010704-0070_Sphaeropteris_cooperi.jpg, Growing in Makawao, Maui,

. Image:Cyathea cooperi insertion of fronds.JPG, Detail of trunk and insertion of fronds. Image:Funchal, Monte - Cyathea cooperi (Australischer Baumfarn) IMG 1891.JPG, Detail of trunk Image:Funchal, Monte - Cyathea cooperi (Australischer Baumfarn) IMG 1893.JPG, Unfurling crosiers Image:Funchal, Monte - Cyathea cooperi (Australischer Baumfarn) IMG 2015.JPG, Unfurling crosiers Image:Funchal, Monte - Cyathea cooperi (Australischer Baumfarn) IMG 1916.JPG, Crown File:Funchal Jardim botanico Cyathea cooperi 2016 1.jpg, In The Madeira botanical garden File:Funchal Jardim Monte Cyathea cooperi 2016 2.jpg, Madeira File:Cyathea cooperi IMG 20190502 120141.jpg, Leaf scars (horizontal trunk) File:Cyathea cooperi P9110031.jpg, Fertile leaf frond

Description

Cultivation

Habitat

Gallery

References

Further reading