Search
Close this search box.

Fern pine

Afrocarpus gracilior

Description

The Fern pine is a dense and fine-textured plant that is commonly grown as a single trunk tree attaining sizes up to 40-60 ft. tall and 25-40 ft. wide. While it does not produce colorful flowers, it is appreciated for its graceful character as a result of its soft texture and pale evergreen foliage color. It is also planted and maintained as a large hedge and screen plant to separate properties and hide wall surfaces where it easily adapts with pruning and shearing. Female plants can produce large numbers of fleshy cones as they mature that are problematic around pavement; male plants are often preferred as a result.

Fern pines are highly adaptable for use as a tree or a hedge in many garden and landscape situations throughout the Inland Empire. You will commonly see them grown as street trees and as shade trees in parks and residential settings. Be sure to plant in spaces that are large enough to accommodate their long-term size. The best growth is achieved when planted in deep, well-draining soils with moderate amounts of regular moisture throughout the year.

Plant Type: Tree
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Mounding, Graceful, Dense
Growth Rate: Moderate
Foliage Color: Pale green, Blue green
Flower Color: Insignificant
Flower Season: Spring
Soil Adaptations: Loam, Deep soil, Clay
Exposure Adaptations: All day sun, Partial sun
Function: Background plant, Shade Tree, Screening, Parks and open space, Foundations, Commercial spaces
Height: 40 ft. – 60 ft.
Width: 25 ft. – 40 ft.

Set your preferred view

Choose between a list or map view of all signs found in our waterwise garden and park.

Welcome to the Waterwise Garden Digital Tour

This is a digital registry created to offer further information on the physical signs in our waterwise garden and park premises.

Would you like a few tips on how to use this tool?

Move around

Travel to different sections of our garden and park premises by using the horizontal scrollbar at the top.

Locate your sign​

Using the map view, you can preview what each specific sign is about by tapping on the plus icon.

Refer back to these tips

You can view these tips at any time by tapping the Help link in the top left.