Cyrtomium Falcatum - Holly Fern

Cyrtomium Falcatum is commonly known as the Holly Fern or Japanese Holly Fern. The unusually shaped evergreen foliage of Cyrtomium Falcatum is dark green and glossy. Cyrtomium Falcatum copes in dry shade but will also grow in a sunny position and is fully hardy for our UK climate. Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society, a sure sign that it will perform well in most gardens.

Cyrtomium Falcatum is native to East Asia, and since being brought to the UK has become naturalized in western regions. It is notable for its dark green, glossy, holly-shaped pinnae, held on upright, arching fronds, which will remain green year-round. 
Hardy throughout the UK, Japanese Holly Fern may require mulching in the severest winter climates. Cyrtomium Falcatum will grow to a mature height of 60-90 cm and spread of 70 cm. As it propagates by spores, you may find new plants springing up across your garden! 
Cyrtomium Falcatum will thrive in a sheltered shady spot, in damp, moist well-drained soil from neutral to acidic pH, with lots of humus added. In its natural habitat it grows in forests, stream banks, and crevices in cliffs, so a planting position that replicates those conditions will be rewarded with strong growth. It is tolerant of salt, making it a good choice for coastal regions. Deer and rabbit resistant, it will prove a good candidate for country gardens, and is somewhat tolerant of pollution, so Japanese Holly Fern can be planted in city gardens as well. It can also grow in drier conditions than its ideal, making it a more versatile landscaping plant, and can even be grown in full sun if watered regularly. 
Japanese Holly Fern makes an excellent rock garden plant, as this is close to its native growing conditions. Tucked into the crevices of a stone wall or walkway, it will settle in happily. It’s a good choice for naturalizing in a woodland garden, or to fill in a shady corner of the garden. If kept well-watered, Cyrtomium Falcatum can be grown successfully as a pot plant, whether outside on a rooftop terrace, courtyard, or patio, or inside, where it will not mind the drier air. 
Cyrtomium Falcatum is a reliable, hardy evergreen fern which, once planted, will thrive without much attention. It’s a great low- maintenance choice for gardens across the UK!