Sticherus, Genus, spp., Multiple species,
- Genus
- Multiple species
Overview
Sticherus is a genus of about 100 species of ferns in the family Gleicheniaceae, found across tropical and subtropical regions, with many species in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific, and South America. Known as umbrella or fan ferns, they spread by long, wiry, creeping rhizomes and form dense, scrambling thickets on banks and slopes. The fronds branch repeatedly in a forking pattern, each fork producing a pair of leaflet-bearing arms that spread into tiered, fan- or umbrella-like layers held 1-6 feet (0.3-1.8 m) above the ground. The narrow segments are stiff and often whitish or bluish beneath. As ferns, they reproduce by spores carried in small round sori on the underside of the segments and bear no flowers. Sticherus grows in moist, acidic, low-nutrient soils in full sun to part shade, frequently colonizing road cuttings, stream banks, and disturbed slopes. The genus is slow to establish and transplants poorly, but once settled it forms long-lived colonies. Its wiry rhizomes can be hard to remove once established.
Native Range
Sticherus is widespread in the Southern Hemisphere and tropics, with species in Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America. Typical habitats are moist, acidic banks, stream margins, forest edges, and road cuttings.Suggested Uses
Sticherus is used in moist native, woodland, and fern gardens and for stabilizing shaded, acidic banks and stream margins. Its tiered fronds suit naturalistic and bushland plantings in frost-free regions. It is grown for foliage in sheltered, humid sites.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 6'
Width/Spread3' - 10'
Bloom Information
As a fern, Sticherus produces no flowers. It reproduces by spores held in small round sori on the underside of the frond segments, released mainly in the warm, humid months. New fronds unfurl through the growing season.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 3-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
