Sticherus flabellatus
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Sticherus flabellatus

Shiny fan fern · Umbrella fern

Tier 2 Difficulty: hard Water: high Light: full_shade
Temperature
20–37 °C
Soil pH
5–6
Hardiness
Zone 9–11
Click count
19
Observations
29

Description

Source: leafsnap

Sticherus flabellatus is a small fern found in eastern Australia and in New Zealand, northwards from the north-west of the South Island. A common and attractive plant with shiny dark foliage and with slightly toothed edges on the smallest parts of the fronds. Often seen in large numbers in suitably moist gullies and by creeks.Two varieties are recognized that differ in size of the sporangia and the size of the ultimate segments. The variety in New South Wales is Sticherus flabellatus var. flabellatus. In 1810 it appeared as Gleichenia flabellata in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, authored by Robert Brown.

Care Guide

💧 Water

The shiny fan fern, which comes from tropical, moist environments, thrives in conditions of high humidity and damp soil. To keep its foliage healthy, water the plant twice a week. When grown indoors, misting the fern is beneficial as it helps replicate its natural humid habitat and supports its growth.

☀️ Light Full shade

Shiny fan fern thrives in locations with diffused light, though it can also adapt to areas with minimal sunlight. Its native habitat — dense forests — has conditioned it to do well across this range of light exposure. Excessive light can harm the plant, while too little may impede its growth.

Ideal: Full shade
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C

The Shiny fan fern is fairly adaptable to temperature, able to withstand high heat and wide temperature fluctuations. In hot weather, attention should be paid to watering and adequate shading provided to avoid sunburn. Conversely, it has limited tolerance for low temperatures; although it can endure some cold, excessively low temperatures may cause frost damage.

Ideal temperature: 20–37.8°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 5-6
Soil pH: 5-6
🌱 Fertilizer
🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning

The shiny fan fern flourishes when pruned in early spring. By removing dead foliage, you can boost growth and improve air circulation. Thinning out excess shoots helps prevent overcrowding, giving the fern a beautiful fan-like appearance. Regular maintenance also keeps pests at bay, ensuring the fern remains a healthy and vibrant addition to your garden.

🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Fern
Life Cycle
Perennial
Genus
Sticherus
Family
Gleicheniaceae
Hardiness Zone
9-11
Mature Height
30 cm to 91 cm
Mature Spread
0.49 m to 1.52 m
Leaf Color
Dark Green, Forest Green
Leaf Type
Evergreen
Planting Time
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Native Area
New Zealand

Tags (4)

Common Names (2)

en Shiny fan fern
en Umbrella fern