Cyrtomium fortunei J. Sm.

Asian Holly Fern; Fortune's Net Vein Holly Fern

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Fortune’s Holly Fern is an introduced perennial evergreen herb in the Wood Fern family (Dryopteridaceae). Native to eastern Asia, it is often planted as an ornamental and has sometimes escaped from cultivation. Fortune’s Holly Fern can be found in mesic hardwood forests, in ravines, on brick and concrete walls, under bridges, along streams, and in urban woodlands. It is a perennial from a thick rhizome. The erect fronds (leaves) are oblong-lanceolate in outline, 1-3 feet in length, once pinnate, with 10-25 pairs of pinnae (leaflets). The petiole base has light brown scales. The pinnae are falcate (curved or sickle-shaped), papery in texture, and with margins minutely crenulate-denticulate. The upper side of the pinnae are dark green in color and the lower side is paler green. Fortune’s Holly Fern reproduces by forming spores. The spores are produced in sporangia grouped in round clusters called sori that are located on the lower side of the pinnae. The sori are covered by a thin peltate indusium that is light brown to tan in color. Fortune’s Holly Fern is widely available from nurseries. It is a popular ornamental, able to tolerate drier conditions than most ferns and able to grow in shady locations. Due to its tendency to escape and invade natural habitats it should be avoided. Consider native species of Dryopteris or Christmas fern as an alternative.—A. Diamond.

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Not Native

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