Cyclosorus parasiticusParasitic Maiden Fern

Cyclosorus parasiticus is a terrestrial maiden fern of humid Asian forest floors, forming soft, upright clumps of pinnate fronds around 0.5 to 1 metre high. Despite the epithet it is not a parasite; it roots in leaf litter and damp soil like any other ground fern.

It is used where a shaded, humid bed needs a soft green filler that will knit together into a continuous understorey without needing individual attention.

Specifications

• Height0.5 to 1 metre
• Width0.5 to 1 metre, spreading slowly by short rhizomes
• Native toTropical and subtropical Asia and the Pacific
• FoliageSoft, pinnate mid-green fronds arching from a central clump; evergreen in frost-free climates
• Growth rateModerate

Conditions

• SoilPrefers moist, humus-rich, free-draining soils with a deep litter layer
• LightPartial shade to full shade
• WaterRegular; requires consistently moist soil and does not tolerate drying out
• ClimateThrives in humid tropical and subtropical regions

Additional Features

• UsesShaded understorey planting, courtyard and atrium beds, water-feature surrounds and rainforest schemes
• SpacingPlant 0.5 to 0.6 metres apart for a closed understorey layer
• Low MaintenanceRemove spent fronds at the base once a year; no other routine care
• Pest ResistanceGenerally pest free in a shaded, humid position
• FormSoft, upright, vase-shaped clump
• VersatilityWorks in open ground beneath canopy and equally in large containers

The Parasitic Maiden Fern is a straightforward filler for deep shade, where its job is to close the ground and stay green.