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(Rumohra adiantiformis)
Leather Fern (Rumohra adiantiformis)
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Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
CC BY-SA 4.0
Image By:
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY-SA 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz | License Type: CC BY-SA 4.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 | Uploader: Kenraiz | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Rumohra_adiantiformis_kz4.jpg | Notes: {{Information |Description ={{en|1=Location taken: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, FL USA. Names: Sabal palmetto (Walter) Lodd. ex Schult. & Schult.f., Blue Palmetto, Cabbage Palm, Cabbage Palmetto, Cabbage-Palm, Carolina Palmetto,... |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Rumohra adiantiformis, commonly known as Leather Fern, is an evergreen fern native to a wide range of habitats including subtropical and tropical forests, as well as the understorey of coastal forests, and moist, shaded areas in the Subantarctic Islands, Zimbabwe to South Africa, Western Indian Ocean, New Guinea, Eastern and Southeastern Australia, and New Zealand. It typically grows to 90 cm (35 in) tall and broad, forming a lush, tufted clump with glossy dark green fronds. The fronds are notable for their round sori (reproductive clusters) on the underside of the pinnae (leaflets), which are covered by peltate indusia (umbrella-like films) and have prominent scales on the stipes (the stalk that supports the frond).
Leather Fern is valued for its hardiness and attractive foliage, making it a popular choice for groundcover in tropical-themed gardens and as a long-lasting greenery in floral arrangements. It has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit in the UK. While it can tolerate a range of light conditions, from full sun to part shade, it thrives best in moist, well-drained soils. In temperate regions, it is often grown as a houseplant due to its limited frost tolerance. This fern is relatively low-maintenance but should be protected from cold and kept in humid conditions to mimic its native environment.CC BY-SA 4.0
Leather Fern is valued for its hardiness and attractive foliage, making it a popular choice for groundcover in tropical-themed gardens and as a long-lasting greenery in floral arrangements. It has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit in the UK. While it can tolerate a range of light conditions, from full sun to part shade, it thrives best in moist, well-drained soils. In temperate regions, it is often grown as a houseplant due to its limited frost tolerance. This fern is relatively low-maintenance but should be protected from cold and kept in humid conditions to mimic its native environment.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Fern
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Width: 2-3 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Non-Flowering
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Part Shade, Full Shade
- Water: Medium, High
- Drainage: Medium
Common Uses
Border Plant, Deer Resistant, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Subtropical and tropical forests, understorey of coastal forests, and moist, shaded areas
Other Names
Common Names: Leatherleaf Fern , Iron Fern , Calaguala , Samambaia-Preta
Scientific Names: Rumohra adiantiformis , Aspidium capense , Polystichum adiantiforme , Tectaria ferruginea , Polystichum coriaceum , Aspidium coriaceum , Tectaria coriacea , Aspidium discolor , Dryopteris capensis , Nephrodium duriusculum
GBIF Accepted Name: Rumohra adiantiformis (G.Forst.) Ching