• Image of Hypolepis sparsisora coll. #A1SA-310|Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC|JLBG

    Photo by JLBG taken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC

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Hypolepis sparsisora coll. #A1SA-310

Sparse-spore South African Fern

This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.

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Item #: 9211

Zones: 8a to 10b, at least

Dormancy: Winter

Height: 36" tall

Culture: Part Sun to Light Shade

Origin: South Africa

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


Logo indicating plant is one of Plant Delights' Introductions

We found the African fern Hypolepis sparsisora, growing on Capetown's Table Mountain at 1,500' elevation and, despite the climatic difference between there and NC, it has been right at home in our NC garden. The name hypolepis, which should mean "fast-leaping," actually means "scales underneath," while sparsisora refers to the diminished number of sori (spore cases). The large, lacy fronds of Hypolepis sparsisora reach 3' in length for us, but can top 9' tall in tropical climates. Hypolepis sparsisora is a spreading fern that can easily form a 6' wide patch in 2-3 years, especially when grown in moist soils. Drier soils slow the growth rate rather dramatically.