Cyrtomium sp.
Holly fern, Holly Fern
Family: Dryopteridaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Cyrtomium sp. (Holly fern) is a non-native California perennial in the Dryopteridaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Polystichum: Cyrtomium has glossy, undivided leaflets with netted veins; sword ferns have more finely divided, prickly leaflets with free veins.; vs Berberis: Cyrtomium is a fern with spores on leaf undersides; barberry is a woody shrub with flowers and berries.; vs Dryopteris: Hold leaflets to light—Cyrtomium veins form a netted pattern, Dryopteris veins run free without connecting.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cyrtomium sp. native to California?
No. Cyrtomium sp. is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Cyrtomium sp. belong to?
Cyrtomium sp. is in the Dryopteridaceae family, genus Cyrtomium.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.