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Gymnosphaera capensis is the forest tree fern, a tree fern with a slender trunk up to about 4.5 m tall and fronds 2 to 3 m long, native to Africa and southeastern Brazil. It grows best in semi-shade with consistently moist, sheltered conditions.
Gymnosphaera capensis, synonyms Alsophila capensis and Cyathea capensis, (known as the "forest tree fern") is a regionally widespread and highly variable species of tree fern. It is indigenous to Southern Africa (subsp. capensis) and South America (subsp. polypodioides).
Gymnosphaera capensis is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is relatively easy to grow if provided with a semi-shady, moist and sheltered environment, and can likely tolerate several degrees of frost.
This fern is the only member of the family Cyatheaceae native to both Africa and the Americas. The species is divided into two subspecies:
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Gymnosphaera capensis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
