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Fortune's Holly Fern (Cyrtomium fortunei): Evergreen, Holly-Like Fern for Year-Round Structure

Fortune's holly fern

Holly fern fronds

Holly fern habit

Holly fern in garden

Overview

Fortune's holly fern (Cyrtomium fortunei), also called hardy Japanese holly fern or net-veined holly fern, is a **handsome, evergreen fern** native to East Asia. Its **stiff, upright, pinnate fronds** (12–24 inches) bear leathery, glossy, dark green pinnae with coarsely toothed margins—strikingly reminiscent of holly leaves. The prominent net-like venation adds subtle texture. It forms a dense, vase-shaped clump 18–24 inches tall and wide.

Four-Season Value

Evergreen Reliability: Glossy foliage persists through winter.
Holly Mimic: Holly-like pinnae without the thorns.
Cold Hardy: Among the hardiest Cyrtomium (USDA zones 6–10).

Culture

Partial to full shade; moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. Tolerates alkaline conditions better than most ferns. Drought tolerant once established. Low maintenance—remove old fronds in spring.

Taxonomic Profile

Family:	Dryopteridaceae
Genus:	Cyrtomium (sir-TOH-mee-um)
Species:	fortunei (for-TOO-nee-eye)
Synonyms:	Phanerophlebia fortunei, Polystichum fortunei, Polystichum falcatum var. fortunei, Aspidium falcatum var. fortunei

For holly-like evergreen structure without the prickles, Fortune's holly fern is a shade garden staple.

Ferns: Japanese Holly Fern (Cyrtomium) Care: Tough, Glossy, Non-Shedding; Japanese Climbing Fern (Lygodium japonicum): Invasive Vine-Like Fern to Avoid; Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina): Versatile, Lacy Fern for Moist Shade; Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora): Coppery New Growth for Shade Gardens; Tongue Fern (Pyrrosia lingua): Leathery, Strap-Shaped Epiphyte for Mounts; Tsushima Holly Fern (Polystichum tsus-simense): Compact, Rock-Loving Holly Fern; Asplenium nidus 'Osaka': Japanese Bird's Nest Fern; Japanese Bamboo Fern (Coniogramme japonica); Japanese Holly Fern 'Rochfordianum' (Cyrtomium falcatum): Glossy Evergreen Fern; Long-Eared Holly Fern (Polystichum neolobatum): Elegant Asian Woodland Fern

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Santa Rosa Fern (Aglaomorpha coronans): Bold, Epiphytic Fern with Nesting Habit