Cyrtomium fortunei

Cyrtomium fortunei: Glossy, Leathery and Built for Shade

Fortune's Holly Fern looks like a fern and a holly bush had a very sensible, very glossy baby. Stiff, leathery fronds with broad leaflets and a backbone most ferns simply don't have. NO FLOPPING ALLOWED.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Cyrtomium fortunei
• Common Name: Fortune's Holly Fern
• Height: 30–60 cm (1–2 ft)
• Spread: 30–60 cm (1–2 ft)
• Flowers: None. Ferns reproduce by spores.
• Foliage: Stiff, leathery, pale to olive-green fronds with broad, holly-like leaflets, in an upright, vase-shaped clump. Evergreen to semi-evergreen.
• Features: Rabbit resistant, bold texture

Where to Plant: Use it where a shady planting needs some structure, such as along a north-facing foundation, beside a shaded path, or in a woodland bed. It also does well in a large container on a shady patio.

Companion Plants: Use the stiff, holly-like fronds of this fern in a moist, shady bed with soft textures around it. Tiarella 'Spring Symphony' opens fragrant pink-white spikes at 20 to 25 cm in May and June. Hosta 'Praying Hands' adds tightly folded, upright leaves at 36 to 46 cm. Ligularia 'Britt-Marie Crawford' brings dark leaves and golden-orange daisies at 90 to 120 cm in August and September. Carex 'Blue Zinger' fills in with arching steel-blue blades at 30 to 45 cm.

Plant Care: Plant in part to full shade in moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Too much sun bleaches the fronds. Water regularly through the first season. Poor drainage leads to root rot, so avoid low spots that stay soggy. It's at the edge of its hardiness here, so pick a sheltered spot out of harsh winter wind. A layer of shredded leaves over the crown in late fall helps, and steady snow cover is a bonus. Leave the old fronds on through winter. In spring, once new fronds start to unroll, trim off any old fronds that look tattered. It doesn't need dividing often.

History: Fortune's holly fern is native to the shady slopes and woodlands of eastern Asia, including China, Japan, Korea and the eastern Himalaya, and it holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. The species name honours Robert Fortune, the 19th-century Scottish plant hunter who brought many Chinese plants into Western gardens.

Final Thoughts: Deer and rabbits leave it alone, and it keeps its looks into the cold. Plant it in the shade and MAKE YOUR FORTUNE.