Hooker’s Spleenwort

Botanical name: Asplenium hookerianum var. hookerianum

Common name(s): Hooker’s Spleenwort

Plant facts:

A delicate, finely divided native fern known for its soft, lacy appearance. It is highly variable in form, with fronds ranging from simply divided when young to more complex in mature plants. A slow-growing species that performs well in shaded environments and is well suited to container growing.

Natural habitat:

Occurs from coastal to alpine regions. Typically found on shaded clay banks, rocky outcrops, and on the forest floor in scrub or open forest. Often present in disturbed forest remnants.

Growing environment:

Shade, Moist, Free draining soils preferred.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand (North Island, South Island, Stewart Island/Rakiura, Chatham Islands). Extremely uncommon in Tasmania and south-eastern Australia.

Height:

Fronds typically 4–25 cm long

Fruiting (spores):

Sori (spore clusters) are small (1–3 mm), positioned near the margins on narrow segments and further from the edges on broader sections.

Uses:

• Ideal for pots and container planting
• Suitable for shaded native gardens
• Adds fine texture to fern collections

Appearance:

Growth habit:
Forms small clumps from a short, upright rhizome covered in brown, pointed scales.

Fronds (leaves):
Fronds are lance-shaped to slightly diamond-shaped, soft, and dark green. They are usually finely divided (bipinnate), but may be simpler when young or more highly divided in mature specimens.

Leaf structure:
Side leaflets (pinnae) occur in 5–15 pairs and are narrow to oval in shape. These are further divided into smaller segments (pinnules), which may be rounded or deeply lobed, giving the plant a delicate, feathery look.

Stems (stipes and rachis):
Stems are slender, pale brown at the base and green above, with fine scales throughout.

How to grow:

Easily grown but slow to establish. Best planted in moist, well-drained soil in full shade or partial shade. Suitable for pots or sheltered garden positions.

Note:
Prone to scale insects and mealy bugs, so occasional monitoring is recommended.