Family

Cyatheaceae

Description

The Australian tree fern, Cyathea cooperi, is a fast-growing evergreen fern native to the coastal rainforests and moist gullies of Queensland and New South Wales. It forms a slender, upright trunk crowned with a canopy of gracefully arching fronds that can reach 12–15 feet in length. Often grown as a dramatic focal point in mild, frost-free climates or as a container specimen in cooler regions, it thrives in consistently moist, well-drained soil and partial shade.

In its native range, C. cooperi plays an important role in creating humid, shaded microhabitats for understory plants and invertebrates. It is tolerant of brief drought once established, but benefits from high humidity and shelter from strong winds, which can damage its delicate fronds.