Royal fern is a perennial deciduous rhizomatous fern with a woody trunk that grows up to two metres tall.
Description
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Yellow-brown leaf stalks have ear-like lobes at the base.
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Fronds are yellow/green and leathery, divided twice.
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Inner fronds have second pinnae covered with clusters of spores.
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Spores are dispersed by the wind.
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Habitats include wetlands, still or slow-moving water body margins and flood zones, sand dunes, ditches, and semi-open canopy forests.
What you need to know
Royal fern forms dense stands and is likely to compete with native vegetation and restructure habitat.
Management approach
Royal fern is declared an unwanted organism by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) because it is capable of causing harm to the natural environment, physical resources or human health in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
These species pose a high risk to our environment, economy, recreation, and cultural values.
Rules
Any species declared a pest, including unwanted organisms, cannot be sold or be in a place where plants are being sold. Pest plants cannot be propagated, bred, or multiplied, communicated, released, or cause to be released, or otherwise spread.
Control
Do not attempt to undertake control of royal fern yourself. Report any sightings to us.
Royal fern. Photo credit: Carolyn Lewis
Inner fronds have second pinnae covered with clusters of spores. Photo credit: Carolyn Lewis
Royal fern. Photo credit: Carolyn Lewis
