Diplazium donianumTwin-sorus Fern

Diplazium donianum is a terrestrial fern of the shaded, humid forest floors of southern China, Japan and mainland Southeast Asia, forming upright tufts of once-pinnate fronds with broad leathery segments. It is coarser and more architectural than most ground ferns and holds its colour well in deep shade.

In landscape use it belongs under closed canopy or in a courtyard well, where humidity is steady and the soil is never allowed to dry out completely.

Specifications

• Height0.4 to 0.8 metres
• Width0.5 to 0.8 metres
• Native toSouthern China, Japan, Taiwan and mainland Southeast Asia
• FoliageOnce-pinnate fronds with broad leathery segments held in an upright tuft; evergreen
• Growth rateModerate

Conditions

• SoilRequires moist, humus-rich, free-draining acidic soil
• LightPartial to deep shade
• WaterModerate to high; will not tolerate drying out
• ClimateThrives in humid subtropical and tropical regions

Additional Features

• UsesGround layer under closed canopy, courtyard wells, shaded planters and humid interior schemes
• SpacingPlant 3 to 4 per square metre for a closed layer
• Low MaintenanceRemove tired fronds at the base; no other routine work is needed
• Pest ResistanceGenerally trouble-free in humid shade, though scale appears on plants kept too dry
• FormUpright tufted rosettes of fronds giving structure at ground level
• VersatilitySuits both dense shade planting and container display in sheltered courts

The Twin-sorus Fern is a coarse-textured shade fern for humid, sheltered ground where finer species look thin.