Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Arachniodes simplicior
East Indian Holly Fern
The Arachniodes simplicior is a hardy, leathery-fronded fern from the woodlands of China and Japan, distinguished by the pale yellow-green band that runs along the centre of each pinna in the widely grown variegated form. Fronds are triangular, glossy and stiff enough to hold their shape in a planted mass.
It is a shade specialist. Under a canopy or on the north side of a building it will hold a clean evergreen cover at 0.4 to 0.6 metres with almost no intervention.
Specifications
- Height0.4 to 0.6 metres
- Width0.5 to 0.8 metres, spreading slowly by rhizome
- Native toEastern Asia, in China, Japan and Korea
- FoliageLeathery, glossy, triangular fronds, often with a pale central band along each pinna; evergreen
- Growth rateSlow to moderate
Conditions
- SoilPrefers moist, humus-rich, free-draining soils
- LightPartial shade to full shade
- WaterModerate; needs consistent moisture and will not tolerate drying out
- ClimateThrives in warm temperate and subtropical regions with shade and humidity
Additional Features
- UsesShaded groundlayers, woodland underplanting, courtyard beds and shaded planters
- SpacingPlant 0.4 to 0.5 metres apart for a closed cover
- Low MaintenanceCut away tired fronds at the end of winter; nothing else is needed
- Pest ResistanceGenerally untroubled; slug damage is the only common complaint
- FormNeat, spreading, evenly textured, holding a consistent height across a mass
- VersatilityReliable in the deep shade where most groundcovers thin out
The East Indian Holly Fern is the dependable answer for evergreen cover in difficult shade.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 09 September 2026