bed for its glossy , holly - comparable leafage , the Japanese holly fern can expand in dense corners of your habitation or yard .
The aptly namedJapanese holly fernproduces foresighted frond with sawtooth leaflets that resemble holly leaves . Indoors ( and in mild out-of-door climates ) , the glossy , deep green foliation of Japanese holly fern stays evergreen throughout the year .
The soft - to - grow fern is an implication from southern Asia and is not to be put off with Polystichum braunii , a native plant usually called Braum ’s holly fern . As a houseplant , Japanese holly fern is grim - maintenance and less fussy about humidness thanother indoor ferns . out of doors , Nipponese holly fern is often found in wildlife , woodland , rock , andshade gardens . Its vase - human body increase habit and portly form make it an excellent molding industrial plant or backdrop for colorful yearbook and perennials . In natural setting — where windblown spore can acquire new plants — the rich emerald semblance of the Nipponese holly fern makes it a beautiful choice for the understory of shady trees .
Credit: Janet Loughrey
Where to Plant Japanese Holly Fern
Japanese holly fern are tough , durable ferns that support a wide-eyed reach of promiscuous and grime conditions . It mature 2 to 3 feet tall and wide in moderate to dense shadiness in zone 6 - 10 ( and sometimes zone 11 ) . In zone where this plant is not winter - hardy , site it in a sheltered localization .
Japanese holly ferns are native to the moist hardwood timber of southerly Asia . So , they are perfectly at menage in woodland gardens , shade gardens , andtree - filled landscape . Nipponese holly ferns choose moist conditions but do not stick out soggy ground . They contribute rich texture and evergreen plant foliage to vague corners or area where Sunday - loving plants wo n’t spring up .
How and When to Plant Japanese Holly Fern
Plant Japanese holly fern in the spring ( after the last frost ) to repress plant stress . They prefer fertile , well - drained land , somake any necessary amendmentsa few weeks before plant . When quick , dig a yap slightly more shallow than your plant ’s container . While the plant life is still in its weed , water supply it deeply and permit the superfluous water to drain away . Remove the plant life from its container and station your plant in the hole . Backfill the hole and tamp down the soil leaving the crown of the roots slightly expose . If you are planting more than one fern , direct them or so 18 to 24 column inch apart .
Japanese Holly Fern Care Tips
Nipponese holly fern is an well-off - to - produce , wraith - loving plant that is knotty , pest - repellent , and perfect for shady locations . It is , however , capable of ego - spread via spores . Be conservative of planting it in areas where it may displace native plant life-time .
Light
Nipponese holly ferns develop best in full nicety but will brook some morning Lord’s Day . Avoid planting your fern in full afternoon Lord’s Day as it will in all probability scorch .
Soil and Water
Japanese holly ferns prefer acidic to achromatic soil ( ideally 6.0 to 7.8 pH ) that isevenly moist , fertile , and well - drain . fend off planting floater where the soil stays pie-eyed for extended period . Wet soil boost radical rot — which is especially detrimental during wintertime months .
Water your fern whenever the soil feels wry to the touch and more regularly during dry periods .
Temperature and Humidity
Whether grow indoors or outdoors , Japanese holly ferns prefer 50 - 70 % humidity and an environmental temperature between 50˚ and 95˚ Fahrenheit — as long as ample shade is provided . In soft climates , the calendered , deep light-green foliage of Nipponese holly fern stays dependably evergreen . In colder mood , Japanese holly ferns are deciduous and may lose color and foliage over the wintertime months .
If you hold up in a cold region , reduce your Nipponese holly fern back to ground story in early spring ( before raw growth begins ) . In Zones 6 and 7 , continue Japanese holly fern witha layer of pale yellow mulchin winter to protect it from extreme temperatures .
Fertilizer
Feed your Japanese holly fern with a balanced , dull - release fertilizer in the spring ( as novel growth emerges ) and again in late summer .
Pruning
Nipponese holly fern require no pruning , but you may polish off damaged , diseased , or dried - up frond as require . you’re able to also cut back winter - damage fronds to reason level in the leap before new growth emerges .
Potting and Repotting
Japanese holly ferns tolerate low humidity , which make water them great houseplant . Happy indoor fern will finally produce about 2 feet tall and panoptic , so project accordingly .
To plant an indoor Japanese Buddy Holly fern , pot your fern in a 12- to 18 - inch container filled with a good - quality potting mix and put it in a room with intermediate or indirect light . Avoid sunny windows as direct sunlight can scorch this plant ’s leafage .
When grown as a houseplant , Japanese holly ferns needregular wateringto defend moist ( but not soggy ) soil . flow your fern with abalanced liquidness fertilizer(diluted by one-half ) every calendar month from spring through tumble .
Credit: Janet Loughrey
Nipponese holly fern originate most quickly in the summer , so design torepot yours every couple of yearsin the saltation before its summer ontogenesis spurt . select a plenty with plentiful drainage that is just 1 to 2 inches larger than the old one . Overly orotund containers could conduct to swampy soil . When you repot your fern , ensure the plant ’s cap sits just above the grunge line to avoid decomposition . you’re able to also part the plant in spring when it outgrows its container .
Pests and Problems
Japanese holly fern are fairly springy , but scale , mite , mealybugs , slugs , and snails can once in a while be a problem . When determine for these take , do n’t mistake thespores on the undersides of the leavesfor cuss .
fungous pip and root buncombe can also be a job in badly drained or overwatered soil .
How to Propagate Japanese Holly Fern
The simplest way to spread Japanese holly fern is via rhizome section . In the saltation , transfer your fern from its pot and use your fingers to loosen the soil from the root . Locate the rootstock in the center of the radical orb and separate it into two or three parts , each with some roots and healthy , green fronds bind . Replant each section in a separate tummy .
you could also propagate Japanese Buddy Holly fern by collecting spores and localize them on the surface of some moist potting premix . wrap up the container with pliant wrap and spritz the grime regularly to keep it equally moist . If you are successful , your spore should start out to sprout in 2 to 3 months .
Types of Japanese Holly Fern
Butterfield’s Japanese Holly Fern
Butterfield ’s Holly Fern ( Cyrtomium falcatum’Butterfieldii ' ) grows about 18 inches tall in zone 7 - 10 . It features glossy , saturnine evergreen frond with deeply - toothed , serrate leaf margins .
Korean Lace Dwarf Holly Fern
Cyrtomium falcatum‘Eco Korean Lace ’ ( Korean Lace Dwarf Holly Fern ) grow in small bunch that stretch only 6 to 15 inch wide . They are hardy in zones 7 - 9 and sport shining green leaves .
‘Rockford’ Holly Fern
‘ Rockford ’ holly fern ( Cyrtomium falcatum’Rochfordianum ' ) is a vigorous Buddy Holly fern cultivar that is hardy in zones 6 - 11 and evergreen plant in zones 9 - 11 . It typically produce 12 to 24 inches marvelous and wide-eyed and lineament serrate pamphlet .
Companion Plants for Japanese Holly Fern
Deadnettle
Deadnettleis a undercoat - hugging perennial that prosper in shade and a wide variety of other growing conditions . The flora is easy to grow in zones 4 - 8 and fetch lots of optical interest to shady corner with a carpeting of colorful foliage and long - blooming flowers . Some varieties of deadnettle — like spotted numb nettle ( Lamium maculatum ) or royal deadnettle ( Lamium purpureum)—areconsidered invasive , so check with your local garden extension religious service before implant it in spaces where it could run groundless .
Heartleaf Brunnera
Heartleaf brunnerais a low - rise , glob - forming perennial that blow clouds of petite , sky - blue flowers from early to midspring in zones 3 - 8 . Like Nipponese holly fern , heartleaf brunnera thrives in location with partial shade and moist but well - drain soil . The plant does not have any specific pH requirements , so it adapts well to acidic , achromatic , and alkaline soil .
Hosta
You ca n’t verbalize about showstopping spectre plant without talking abouthostas . Hostas propose lush foliage and are sluttish to manage for once make . They also come in awide variety of human body and sizes — from gnome diversity that measure just 12 inch tall to grander interpretation that stomach 2 to 3 foot tall and spacious . Like Japanese holly ferns , hostas love fertile , moist , well - drained soil and fond to full refinement . They are hardy in zone 3 to 9 .
Ligularia
With its showy burgundy to green leaves and golden summer blossom , perennial ligulariamakes a stunning addition to shade gardens . Ligularia is unfearing in Zones 4 to 9 and tend to grow 3 to 8 feet tall when grown in systematically moist , racy soil . It like a petty more sun than Japanese holly ferns , so plant it on the sunny side of a garden patch and let its dramatic foliage stymy out the sun for shade - loving companion .
Wild Ginger
Wild ginger(Asarumspp . ) is a low - arise perennial that ( like Nipponese holly fern ) thrives in moist , shady places . This acaulescent plant have dark unripe nitty-gritty - physique leaves with seeable veining and cup - form purple - browned heyday that tuck in among the foliage each bound . Despite its name , unfounded peppiness is not a congenator of culinary ginger , but its leaves and roots smell like peppiness when crushed . Wild ginger is hardy in zone 3 - 8 and spread slow by rootstalk to create a lush groundcover in shady area . It ’s also deer - tolerant .
Frequently Asked Questions
Japanese holly disseminate well via spores and has been know to give the axe aboriginal coinage . That enounce , it is not officially classified as invasive . It is , however , recognized by the U.S. Park Service as an environmental sess . For this grounds , planting is not recommended in several states — including Texas , Georgia , Hawaii , and Virginia . If you are unaware of the Nipponese holly fern position in your state or have headache , confabulate with your local extension phone service before plant .
With right care and placement , Nipponese holly ferns can live as long as 10 years .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: David Nevala
Credit: Julie Mikos
