Davallia tyermanii

Davallia tyermanii in the wild

Davallia tyermanii is native from southern China to northern Myanmar and Taiwan.

It grows naturally on trees and rocks in warm, humid areas, with its roots tucked into small pockets of leaf litter and other plant material.

How to grow Davallia tyermanii

• Rhizomes: Keep the furry rhizomes on top of the potting mix. Buried rhizomes that remain wet can rot.
• Water: Water thoroughly once the surface begins to feel less damp, then let the pot drain fully.
• Potting mix: Use an airy fern mix with bark or another chunky ingredient.
• Humidity: Moderate to high humidity helps fresh fronds open cleanly.
• Light: Bright filtered light or gentle morning sun supports healthy fronds.
• Feeding: Use a weak balanced feed while fresh fronds are forming.
• Temperature: Warm to moderate room conditions suit the plant. Keep it away from cold draughts.
• Repotting: Refresh the mix when it becomes dense or the inner root mass is crowded, keeping every rhizome on the surface.

Troubleshooting Davallia tyermanii

• A creeping rhizome turns dark and soft: Staying wet for too long or being buried can cause rot. Remove decayed tissue with a clean tool and place healthy rhizomes on fresh, airy potting mix.
• Fresh fronds collapse near the tip of a rhizome: Damage to that rhizome or very wet potting mix can interrupt new growth. Check that the rhizome is firm and let excess moisture drain away.
• Frond tips become papery and brown: Dry potting mix or very dry air can crisp the fine fronds. Water if needed and move the fern away from hot, drying air.
• Hard brown or pale bumps appear along fronds or rhizomes: Scale insects can settle on both leafy and creeping growth. Remove small colonies carefully and keep checking new fronds.

Davallia tyermanii is non-toxic to cats and dogs

• This plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
• Its effects on people are unclear, so keep it away from young children who may chew it.
• Eating a large amount can still cause an upset stomach. Seek medical or veterinary advice if symptoms continue.

Where does the name Davallia tyermanii come from?

Davallia honours the Swiss-English botanist Edmund Davall. Tyermanii honours John Simpson Tyerman, a British horticulturist and fern collector who served as curator of Liverpool Botanic Garden.

James Edward Smith established the genus Davallia in 1793 in Mémoires de l’Académie Royale des Sciences de Turin, volume 5, page 414.

Thomas Moore first described it as Humata tyermanii in 1871 in Gardeners’ Chronicle, volume 1871, page 870. Harry James Veitch later placed it in Davallia as Davallia tyermanii in 1873 in Catalogue of New and Beautiful Plants, volume 1873, page 18.