How big does Japanese holly fern grow?

About 50 cm × 60 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 30–60 cm × 30–60 cm.

What soil does Japanese holly fern grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, acidic.

Is Japanese holly fern hardy?

Hardy down to -18 °C (USDA zone 6, RHS H6). In the colder parts of the country (Central Bohemian Region, Hradec Králové Region, Karlovy Vary Region, Liberec Region, Moravian-Silesian Region, Olomouc Region, Pardubice Region, Plzeň Region, South Bohemian Region, Ústí nad Labem Region, Vysočina Region, Zlín Region) it may not survive winter without protection.

How much water does Japanese holly fern need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: low.

Japanese holly fern

Cyrtomium fortunei

Japanese holly fern (Cyrtomium fortunei) is a perennial that reaches 50 cm × 60 cm after ten years. Light: part shade, shade. Hardy down to -18 °C. Drought tolerance: low.

Illustration of Japanese holly fern — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Leathery, matt green, sickle-shaped leaflets make the fronds look like sprays of holly, and in mild winters they stay green all year. It is the hardiest of the holly ferns but still wants a sheltered spot in shade or part shade with humus-rich, moist, freely draining soil. Use it under trees and shrubs, in a shady border or in a pot, out of winter wind and strong sun.

Watch out for

In Central Europe the fronds stay intact to about -15 °C; in colder winters, especially windy ones without snow, they brown and die back, though the crown usually resprouts. Plant it out of the wind, mulch the crown with leaves for winter and cut damaged fronds off in spring. The roots rot easily in soil that stays wet in winter. Strong sun bleaches the fronds. Scale insects and fungal leaf spots can occur.

Key facts

Light: Part shade, Shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 50 cm × 60 cm
Hardiness: down to -18 °C
Foliage: Evergreen

All details

Group	Perennial
Light	Part shade, Shade
Size after 10 years	50 cm × 60 cm
Ultimate size	30–60 cm × 30–60 cm
Hardiness	down to -18 °C (USDA 6, RHS H6)
Soil	Average garden soil, Acidic
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	no data
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	45 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

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