Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Cyrtomium falcatum (L. f.) C. Presl

Synonyms

Cyrtomium falcatum (L. f.) C. Presl 'Rochfordii'
Phanerophlebia falcata (L. f.) Copel.
Polypodium falcatum L. f.

Family

Dryopteridaceae

Common Names

holly fern, house holly fern, Japanese holly fern, Japanese netvein hollyfern

Origin

Native to eastern Asia (i.e. China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam and India).

Naturalised Distribution

Naturalised in the coastal districts of southern and eastern Australia, particularly near urban areas (i.e. in south-eastern Queensland, northern and central New South Wales, south-western Victoria, south-eastern South Australia and south-western Western Australia).

Also naturalised on Lord Howe Island, and overseas in the USA and Hawaii.

Notes

This species is regarded as an environmental weed in some parts of New South Wales (i.e. the wider Sydney and Blue Mountains region) and Western Australia, and is a "sleeper weed" in other parts of the country. This shade-tolerant fern is widely cultivated as a garden ornamental and indoor plant.

Japanese holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum) has escaped cultivation and become established in the crevices of coastal cliffs, in rock crevices, in coastal heathlands, on shaded riverbanks and near small natural springs (as well as on walls in urban areas). For example, it is occasionally found growing on cliffs along the Swan River estuary in south-western Western Australia.

Naturalised plants in Australia can generally be ascribed to Cyrtomium falcatum 'Rochfordii', a cultivar with irregularly and sharply toothed leaf margins.