Browse plants / Cyatheaceae
Straw tree fern Cyathea cooperi
Also called Lacy tree fern
Previously known as Sphaeropteris cooperi
When it flowers
- January, not flowering
- February, not flowering
- March, not flowering
- April, not flowering
- May, not flowering
- June, not flowering
- July, not flowering
- August, not flowering
- September, not flowering
- October, not flowering
- November, not flowering
- December, not flowering
Fast tree fern with a slender trunk and broad, lacy crown, for shady subtropical gardens.
A fast-growing tree fern with a slender trunk patterned with oval scars and a wide, airy crown of fronds. It handles more sun than the soft tree fern. The fronds are covered in straw-coloured scales that can irritate skin.
In the garden
- Flowers
- Inconspicuous
- Attracts
- Shelter for small wildlife
- Leaves
- Large, finely divided, light green fronds; trunk and frond bases covered in pale scales.
Growing conditions
- Climate
- Tropical, subtropical and temperate
- Light
- Full sun to full shade
- Soil
- Sandy, loam and clay
- Drainage
- Copes with occasional wet
- Frost
- Light frost
- Water
- Needs regular water
- Coast
- Sheltered coastal gardens
Planting and care
- Grown from
- Seed
Planting
Part shade in moist, rich soil, sheltered from strong wind. Allow 3 m for the crown.
Pruning
Cut off dead fronds close to the trunk.
Care
Water the trunk and crown in hot, dry weather.
Where it comes from
- Family
- Cyatheaceae
- Order
- Cyatheales
- Native to
- New South Wales and Queensland
- Natural range
- Rainforest and wet gullies of eastern Queensland and northern NSW.
Where to buy
Widely available.
We don't have stockists listed for this plant yet. Local native nurseries are often the best place to ask.
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Further reading
- Cyathea cooperi on the Atlas of Living Australia (Atlas of Living Australia)
Native nurseries near you
An independent list of nurseries that specialise in Australian native plants. Nobody pays to be on it. Distances are approximate and in a straight line. Opening hours and stock vary, so check before you go.