Guide to Growing Cyathea cooperi

General Information

The name Cyathea cooperi derives from:

Cyathea - from the Greek 'kyatheion' meaning little cup, referring to the structure that holds the spores.

cooperi - named in honour of Sir Daniel Cooper (1821-1902) Member of the old NSW Legislative Council and .

Common names include the 'Lacy tree fern' due its delicate frond structure, the 'Australian tree fern', as this is one of the most commonly cultivated ferns outside Australia and the 'Scaly tree fern' due to the scars left by fallen fronds.

C. cooperi is endemic to the Eastern Australia and has naturalised in Western Australia. It is naturally found in tropical lowlands, tropical and sub-tropical rainforest, montane forest, along streams and in gullies, along the coast of Queensland and New South Wales. C. cooperi is rarely found in Victoria or at high elevations similar to D. antarctica and C. australis due to it not being tolerate of such low temperatures. With this species so widely grown it is no surprise that cultivars have been developed, the more popular of these are C. cooperi sp. 'Brentwood' and 'Robusta', these are found grown widely in private gardens along the West coast of the USA.

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