The Japanese fern tree, or Filicium decipiens, is a very rare pleasant and graceful specimen whose small size makes it ideal for your yard or home landscape. The tree is most easily recognizable for its odd foliage its leaves are long and thin and protrude from the stems in a fernlike manner, which gives the tree its common name. The name Japanese fern tree is actually a misnomer F. decipiens is native to Africa and the Indian subcontinent, not Japan, and its not a fern. However, its fernlike leaves are packed together compactly, giving the tree a dense crown that provides good shade. The crown of the Japanese fern tree is spherical and symmetrical, and as the tree ages it steadily expands outward to achieve a wonderful shape. It also blooms small, inconspicuous white flowers. Though native to the East, this tree grows very well in tropical conditions because of its high needs for direct sunlight and warmth: its particularly popular in South Florida and will flourish in any area that approximates the tropical climate. This is a fairly slow grower that doesnt require trimming or much effort on your end: once planted in the right area, the Japanese fern tree will slowly expand over the years to a maximum of about 25 feet. Make sure not to plant it too close to any existing structures so its round crown has room to fully develop.