Lastreopsis hispida
Hairy Fern, known as tuakura in Māori and also called the Bristly Shield Fern, is a distinctive and widely distributed native New Zealand ground fern that creates attractive displays with its long-creeping rhizomes up to 175mm long and harsh, brownish-green fronds measuring 265-1400mm in length, featuring the species' most characteristic trait - conspicuous bristly red-brown to black scales covering the stipes, rachises, and veins that give this terrestrial fern its common name. Growing as a 3-4 pinnate (occasionally 5-pinnate) fern with five-angled, finely divided fronds that display yellow club-shaped glands on the indusia margins, this adaptable endemic species thrives in diverse forest types from kauri and podocarp to broadleaved, beech, and coastal forests throughout New Zealand's North Island (except central high country), South Island coastal and lowland areas, Stewart Island, and the Chatham Islands from sea level to 915 meters elevation. With round sori protected by kidney-shaped indusia and the ability to grow as a terrestrial fern or occasionally as a low epiphyte, this hardy species colonizes hillsides, clay banks, streambanks, and rocky gullies on both greywacke and limestone substrates, making it an excellent choice for shaded forest gardens, naturalistic plantings, and restoration projects where its distinctive bristly texture and spreading habit can create authentic New Zealand forest floor environments. native ferns
Image credit: Hairy Fern (Lastreopsis hispida). Wikipedia
| Scientific Name | Lastreopsis hispida |
|---|---|
| Height | 0.265-1.4 meters (frond length) |
| Spread | Spreading (long-creeping rhizomes) |
| Water Needs | Moderate to high (moist forest conditions) |
| Light | Shade to partial shade (forest understory) |
| Frost Tolerance | Good (coastal to montane) |
| Salt Tolerance | Moderate (coastal forest native) |
| Growth Rate | Moderate (creeping habit) |
| Lifespan | Long-lived perennial |
Hairy Fern thrives in New Zealand's temperate humid climates, performing best in areas with reliable moisture and forest conditions. It adapts well from coastal to montane elevations throughout most of New Zealand.
| City | Climate Suitability |
|---|---|
| Whangārei | Ideal |
| Auckland | Ideal |
| Hamilton | Ideal |
| Tauranga | Ideal |
| Rotorua | Ideal |
| Gisborne | Ideal |
| New Plymouth | Ideal |
| Napier | Good |
| Whanganui | Ideal |
| Palmerston North | Ideal |
| Wellington | Ideal |
| Nelson | Ideal |
| Christchurch | Good |
| Dunedin | Good |
| Invercargill | Good |
Hairy Fern has specific forest floor preferences:
Forest understory conditions:
High moisture preferences:
Hairy Fern requires minimal maintenance:
The distinctive bristly scales and spreading habit are the main attractions and should be preserved through minimal intervention to maintain the plant's natural forest floor character.
The best time to plant Hairy Fern is during spring or autumn when moisture levels are naturally higher and establishment is most successful.
Choose a site with:
Maintain permanent moisture and provide consistent shade. This forest floor specialist establishes readily when cultural conditions match its native forest habitat preferences.
Growing from spores is highly effective:
Division of creeping rhizomes is very effective:
Spore dispersal naturally establishes new colonies in suitable moist forest habitats, particularly along streambanks and in forest gullies where conditions are optimal.
Hairy Fern (Lastreopsis hispida) represents both the remarkable distribution of New Zealand's native ferns and the distinctive characteristics that make species identification fascinating:
Today, Hairy Fern serves as an excellent example of New Zealand's forest floor diversity, valued for its distinctive bristly appearance, spreading habit, and ability to create authentic forest understory conditions in native gardens and restoration projects.
Maintain permanently moist, well-drained forest conditions and provide consistent shade. Control slugs and snails if necessary. This forest floor specialist thrives when grown in conditions that mimic its native habitat preferences.
Hairy Fern is perfect for creating authentic New Zealand forest floor environments - the distinctive bristly scales on the stems and fronds make it instantly recognizable and add fascinating texture to shaded gardens. This is one of the few native ferns where you can actually feel the difference - run your fingers along the stipe and rachis to experience the characteristic "hairy" texture that gives it its name. Plant it near streams or water features where it can spread naturally, and watch how the long-creeping rhizomes gradually create colonies that look exactly like wild forest populations. The five-angled, finely divided fronds create beautiful patterns in dappled forest light, making it ideal for those challenging moist, shaded areas where other plants struggle.
Learn more about New Zealand's forest floor diversity in Native Ferns.
This section provides important information about plant care and cultivation practices. Understanding these aspects helps ensure successful growth and development in garden conditions.
This section provides important information about plant care and cultivation practices. Understanding these aspects helps ensure successful growth and development in garden conditions.
This section provides important information about plant care and cultivation practices. Understanding these aspects helps ensure successful growth and development in garden conditions.
This section provides important information about plant care and cultivation practices. Understanding these aspects helps ensure successful growth and development in garden conditions.
Hairy fern plays important ecological roles in New Zealand's forest understory, contributing to the complex layered structure that characterizes healthy native forest ecosystems and providing habitat for diverse communities of invertebrates, fungi, and microorganisms. The fern's presence helps maintain forest soil moisture and nutrient cycling, while its fronds create specific microhabitats that support specialized forest organisms. Its requirements for specific moisture and shade conditions make it a good indicator of forest health.
This section provides important information about plant care and cultivation practices. Understanding these aspects helps ensure successful growth and development in garden conditions.
This section provides important information about plant care and cultivation practices. Understanding these aspects helps ensure successful growth and development in garden conditions.
While not currently threatened, hairy fern faces ongoing challenges from habitat modification, browsing by introduced mammals, and competition from invasive weeds that can alter forest understory conditions. The species' dependence on specific forest conditions makes it vulnerable to ecosystem changes, while its role in maintaining forest biodiversity adds importance to conservation efforts. Protection focuses on maintaining healthy forest ecosystems, controlling introduced pests, managing invasive species, and preserving the complex understory conditions essential for native fern communities.
This plant has cultural associations in Aotearoa and is valued in restoration and gardens for ecological services; use eco‑sourced stock near natural areas.
Hairy fern was recognized by Māori as part of the diverse fern communities that characterized healthy native forests, occasionally used for medicinal purposes and valued as an indicator of specific forest conditions in traditional ecological knowledge. The plant's distinctive hairy fronds and forest habitat made it recognizable among the many native fern species, while its presence indicated healthy understory conditions. The species continues to hold interest as one of New Zealand's distinctive native ferns and represents the remarkable diversity of the country's fern flora.
This section provides important information about plant care and cultivation practices. Understanding these aspects helps ensure successful growth and development in garden conditions.
This section provides important information about plant care and cultivation practices. Understanding these aspects helps ensure successful growth and development in garden conditions.
