Sphaeropteris cooperi: Country Or Region Of Origin
Australia
Plant Profile: Sphaeropteris cooperi
Taxonomy: Sphaeropteris cooperiNames
Australian Tree Fern
Phonetic Spelling:sfay-ROP-teris koo-PER-ee
Genus:Sphaeropteris
Species:cooperi
Family:Cyatheaceae
Originating from Australia, this tree fern can grow to impressive heights of over 50 feet, with its fronds extending between 10 to 20 feet. Its shape is reminiscent of a martini glass, characterized by elegantly curving fronds that sprout from a slender trunk. Often cultivated as a houseplant or as a striking addition to tropical container gardens, it’s essential to keep the trunk moist to ensure the plant thrives. However, it does exhibit some weedy characteristics.
Sphaeropteris cooperi Feature Summary
Sphaeropteris cooperi Image Gallery
Tags
#houseplant
#weedy
#lacy leaves
#interiorscape
#fronds
#fern
#fast growing
#deer resistant
#tropical feel
#woodlands
#container plants
Similar Plants
Sphaeropteris cooperi Feature Summary
Attributes
Australia
Heavy shade, Deer
Perennial
Fruit
No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
Flowers
No flowers.
Leaves
Large fronds that have a lacy appearance. The fiddle heads have stiff white hairs.
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Other/more complex
Oblanceolate
Crenulate
Rough
Bark
Trunk is skinny has triangular-shaped scars from old fronds
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Houseplant
Fern
Broadleaf Evergreen
Arching
Erect
Rapid
Fine
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
12-24 feet
6-feet-12 feet
8b
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
Loam (Silt)
Stem
Landscape
Children's Garden
Shade Garden
Fairy Garden
Accent
Deer
Heavy Shade
Container
Patio
Woodland
Houseplants
Pool/Hardscape
Weedy
Sphaeropteris cooperi Image Gallery
Sphaeropteris cooperi Attributes
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Heavy shade, Deer
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Sphaeropteris cooperi Fruit
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Fruit Description
No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
Sphaeropteris cooperi Flowers
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Flower Description
No flowers.
Sphaeropteris cooperi Leaves
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Leaf Description
Large fronds that have a lacy appearance. The fiddle heads have stiff white hairs.
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Leaf Color
Green
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Sphaeropteris cooperi Bark
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Bark Description
Trunk is skinny has triangular-shaped scars from old fronds
Sphaeropteris cooperi Whole Plant Traits
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Sphaeropteris cooperi Cultural Conditions
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Sphaeropteris cooperi: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
8b
9a
9b
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Sphaeropteris cooperi Stem
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Sphaeropteris cooperi Landscape
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Sphaeropteris cooperi: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
