Sticherus flabellatus
shiny fan fern
Overview
Sticherus flabellatus is an evergreen fern with fronds arranged in flat, fan-shaped tiers, the fronds reaching 0.3-1.5 m (1-5 ft) long on slender, wiry, dark stipes. Each frond repeatedly forks, with narrow segments spreading in one plane to form the characteristic fan, glossy green above and paler beneath. The fern spreads by long, creeping underground rhizomes, forming colonies and thickets over time. It does not flower; instead, round spore clusters (sori) sit in rows on the undersides of the segments and release spores in the warmer months. Growth is moderate to slow, and colonies build up over several years. The species grows along creek banks, on moist shaded slopes, and in gullies in forest, where it tolerates poor sandy soils but depends on steady moisture and shelter. It is sensitive to drying out, full sun, and root disturbance, which makes established plants difficult to transplant.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales to Victoria and Tasmania, growing on moist shaded creek banks, gully slopes, and forest floors on sandy and peaty soils in high-rainfall areas.Suggested Uses
Grown in shaded, moist gardens, fern houses, and along pond and creek margins, spaced 0.5-1 m (1.5-3 ft) apart, where colonies form a fan-textured groundcover. It binds soil on shaded banks and gully slopes. The need for shade and constant moisture limits its use in sunny or dry gardens.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 5'
Width/Spread2' - 4'
Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years
Bloom Information
As a fern it does not flower. Spores form in round clusters on the undersides of the frond segments, ripening mainly in the warmer months. New fronds unfurl from creeping rhizomes through the growing season.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
glossy greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 1-5 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in part to full shade on moist, free-draining sandy or peaty acidic soil with steady moisture and shelter from wind and sun. Keep the soil damp, as the fern dries and browns in dry or exposed positions. It tolerates cool conditions and light frost but not drought or full sun. Established plants resist transplanting because of the creeping rhizome, so it is grown from divisions or potted plants set into moist shaded ground. Mulch keeps the rhizomes cool and moist. Few pests cause significant damage.Pruning
Remove old, browned, or damaged fronds at the base through the year to keep the colony tidy. New fronds arise from the creeping rhizome and replace old growth. Hard cutting is not needed, and the rhizome continues to extend at the colony edge.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons