This tall tree-fern has an upright slender woody trunk (caudex) up to 150mm (6in) in diameter and is covered in large oval clean-cut leaf scars. It has a crown of mid green fronds that are up to 6m (20ft) long with long with white scales as the crosier unfurls.

Hardiness zones 10 to 12

Cyathea cooperi is naturally found in Australia growing on the east coast from Cooktown in Queensland to central New South Wales and appearing in damp gullies on the coast and in the adjoining tablelands. 

It prefers a moist organic rich well drained sandy loam in a semi shaded to sunny wind protection position and is frost tolerant but drought tender.

The Lacy Tree-fern is a very attractive fast growing fern and is planted as a specimen in parks and gardens or in group plantings along water courses for a tropical effect. It is suitable for coastal and low-mountain regions and establishes in 2 to 3 years. It is also planted in moist gullies in the understory of trees in a woodland setting. It can be transplanted easily when mature for instant effect in new gardens. ID 434

Cyathea (sy-AY-thee-ah) cooperi (KOOP-ur-eye)

‘Cyathea’: from Greek kyatheion  - little cup (refers to the shape of the spore case); ‘cooperi’: after Daniel Cooper, curator of the Botanical Society in London. syn Sphaeropteris cooperi (from Greek sphaira + pteron - globe wing).

Cyatheaceae (sy-AY-thee-AY-see-ee)