Oak Leaf Fern (Tectaria zeylanica): Tropical Fern with Oak-Shaped Fronds

Overview

Oak leaf fern (Tectaria zeylanica) is a tropical fern native to Sri Lanka, India, and Southeast Asia. Its common name derives from the distinctive, deeply lobed sterile fronds that resemble oak leaves. It is a terrestrial fern of moist, shaded forests.

Botanical Description

Fronds are dimorphic. Sterile fronds are broadly triangular, deeply pinnatifid to pinnate, 30–60 cm long, with oak-leaf-like lobes, light to medium green. Fertile fronds are taller, more erect, with narrower, contracted pinnae bearing linear sori along the veins, protected by reniform indusia. The rhizome is short-creeping, scaly.

Taxonomy

Family:	Dryopteridaceae
Genus:	Tectaria (tek-TAIR-ee-a)
Species:	zeylanica (zey-LAN-ee-kuh)
Synonym:	Quercifilix zeylanica

Cultivation Requirements

• Light: Shade to deep shade.
• Soil: Moist, well-drained, humus-rich; acidic.
• Moisture: High; keep evenly moist.
• Hardiness: USDA zones 10–11; tropical.

Garden Uses

Suited for tropical ferneries, shaded conservatories, and warm, humid greenhouses. The oak-leaf foliage adds unique texture. In frost-free tropical gardens, plant in deep shade with consistent moisture. Not a temperate garden plant.

Notes

The genus Tectaria includes many tropical species, some with similar oak-leaf forms. T. zeylanica is occasionally grown by fern specialists. The synonym Quercifilix (oak fern) reflects the foliage resemblance.