AUTUMN FERN
Dryopteris erythrosora

This is an excellent fern with a beautiful foliage. The fronds emerge a bright coppery-orange, fading over time to green. The broad fronds will build a dense foliage that looks very attractive at any angle from a very young age.

It can be grown in a hanging basket or in a shady landscape. If it is used in the landscape it is drought tolerant once established.

The Autumn Fern will display the best colors when the temperatures are kept below 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

A tray of 4' pot plants
 

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Hardiness Zone - 10. This is a tender plant and will not tolerate frost.
Bloom - Not Applicable.
Winter - If it has to endure temperatures below 50º Fahrenheit, it will need to be in a low-humidity environment. Its leaves will need to be kept dry to avoid rot.
Mature Height - This plant will grow to 3'
Sun - Prefers bright light, but will tolerate partial shade.
Water - Keep soil evenly moist.
Fertilizer - Use a soluble fertilizer at a low to moderate rate, leaching occasionally.
Soil - This plant is adaptable to different soils, but will do best in a well drained mix.
Container - This is an excellent container plant.

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BIRDNEST FERN
Asplenium nidus

This is an unusual and attractive tropical fern. It is an evergreen terrestrial or epiphyte fern that has beautiful, glossy green fronds which are crinkled at the top.
Birdnest ferns get their name from the nest-like center of the plant. The fronds are undivided, long spear-like and somewhat wavy.

Birdnest Fern Avis is a typical Birdnest Fern with broad, somewhat wavy leaves.

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Japanese Birdnest Fern has narrower leaves than a typical Birdnest.

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Victorian Birdnest Fern has narrow ruffled leaves.

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Hardiness Zone – 9. The ideal temperature range is between 60° and 70° Fahrenheit. If the temperature is higher than 75° Fahrenheit, high air humidity or frequent misting is needed. Provide good air circulation.
Mature Height – The leaves can grow to 2'.
Sun - Prefers good indirect light, and will tolerate partial shade.
Water – Birdnest Ferns like high humidity and frequent misting. Keep soil evenly moist. These ferns need protection from drying wind.
Fertilizer - Use a soluble fertilizer at a half strength and spray on the fronds.
Soil – Use a well draining professional mix.
Container - This is an excellent container plant.

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ELKHORN FERN - COBRA FERN
Polypodium grandiceps

This is an unusual and attractive tropical fern. It is an evergreen terrestrial or epiphyte fern that has beautiful, glossy green fronds which are crinkled at the top.

Mature Plant
 

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Hardiness Zone - 10. This is a tender plant and will not tolerate frost.
Bloom - Not Applicable.
Winter - If it has to endure temperatures below 50º Fahrenheit, it will need to be in a low-humidity environment. Its leaves will need to be kept dry to avoid rot.
Mature Height - This plant will grow to 3'
Sun - Prefers bright light, but will tolerate partial shade.
Water - Keep soil evenly moist.
Fertilizer - Use a soluble fertilizer at a low to moderate rate, leaching occasionally.
Soil - This plant is adaptable to different soils, but will do best in a well drained mix.
Container - This is an excellent container plant.

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MACHO FERN
Nephrolepis bisserata

This is an impressive, large, fast growing fern for indoors or for the frost free garden landscape. It will make a fabulous hanging basket. The long, arching fronds have crinkled bright green leaves. The plant has a 'full' look from an early age.

This fern can stay potted for a very long time. If it can not be potted up to a larger pot anymore, it can be divided to several pots safely.

Mature Plant
 

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Hardiness Zone - 9-10. This is a tender plant and will not tolerate frost.
Bloom - Not Applicable.
Winter - If it has to endure temperatures below 50º Fahrenheit, it will need to be in a low-humidity environment. Its leaves will need to be kept dry to avoid rot.
Mature Height - This plant in the landscape can grow up to 8' long fronds.
Sun - Prefers bright indirect light, and will tolerate full sun with afternoon shade. The temperature has an importance as the leaves might get burn damage if the get too hot.
Water – Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy.
Fertilizer - Use a soluble fertilizer at a low to moderate rate, leaching occasionally.
Soil – The Macho Fern needs well draining mix that contains peat moss as well for water holding capacity.
Container - This is an excellent container plant for large containers.
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STAGHORN FERN
Platycerium bifurcatum

Epiphytic fern that naturally grows on bark or tree branches. It has 2 different types of fronds, one that grows outward from the base, the fertile frond-the other, a shield frond that cups the area where it is rooted. This latter will eventually form a nest to catch nutrients.

This fern can grow to an impressive size with little care. The plant can be attached to a piece of wood, allowing for transport indoors during the winter. It may also be hung or grown on a tree.

Mature Plant
 

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Hardiness Zone - 9 - 11.
Bloom - Not Applicable.
Winter - Not Applicable.
Mature Height - Not Applicable. (Grows vertically.)
Sun - It likes bright light, but not direct sun.
Water - This plant should be watered or dunked under once a week in a solution of rainwater or soft water and fertilizer. It thrives when the fronds are misted daily but will do fine without such care.
Fertilizer - Use a balanced fertilizer, once a week to once a month.
Soil - It can be grown in soil, moss, peat, or attached to a tree.
Container - Great potted plant, but re-potting can be a challenge as the shield leaf sometimes wraps around the pot.

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FRENCH STAGHORN FERN - SILVER ELKHORN FERN
Platycerium veitchii 'Lemoniei'

This is a native Australian staghorn fern. In its native habitat it grows on sun-exposed boulders and rocks. It can survive for two months without rain. The foliage is silvery green with waxy hairs.

The French Staghorn Fern requires less water and more sun than the Staghorn Fern. Its fronds are narrower and longer.

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Hardiness Zone - 9 - 11. This plant does not tolerate frost, however it can thrive in a wide range of temperatures. It does best at 50º - 85º Fahrenheit.
Bloom - Not Applicable.
Winter - Not Applicable.
Mature Height - Not Applicable. (Grows vertically.)
Sun - Prefers full sun, but will tolerate partial shade.
Water - Water sparingly in the winter.
Fertilizer - Use a balanced fertilizer, once a week to once a month.
Soil - This plant needs a well-draining soil. It tolerates poor soil but does better in a professional mix.
Container - Excellent on plaques, wooden or wire baskets, or in a container.

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AUSTRALIAN TREE FERN
Cyathea cooperi

The ancient, Jurassic plants have only a few descendants – the family of Tree Ferns is one of those. The Australian Tree Fern is one of the most cold tolerant of the group.

Tree Ferns are generally slow growing but the gracious, lacy, large fronds give a stately appearance to the plant at a young age.  

The Australian Tree Fern has a slender trunk of 3-6” thick. The bright green fronds will reach about 8’ length on the mature tree. It can grow to a height up to 30’. This tree fern tolerates wind, cold, and heat better than most tree ferns. While it thrives in organic, rich soil and filtered sun, it can be grown in shade, part shade, full sun. This tree fern prefers moist environment, but it will grow well in a dry climate as long as it has adequate watering. This is the ultimate tree fern for the slightly brown thumb.

6" pot size Australian Tree Fern
 

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3 gal. pot size Australian Tree Fern
 

Australian Tree Fern in habitat
 

Hardiness Zone – 9-10. This plant can tolerate short cold spells to the mid 20-s.
Bloom - Not Applicable.
Winter – At the temperature of the low 20-s the fronds get frost burns. The plant starts to recover once the warm weather arrives and in good conditions it will push a new leaf in about every 2 weeks. By April the tree is beautiful again.
Mature Height – The Australian Tree Fern can grow up to 30'
Sun – This plant will tolerate a wide range or light conditions, however it grows best in filtered light.
Water - Keep soil evenly moist.
Fertilizer - Use a balanced fertilizer.
Soil - This Tree Fern prefers rich organic well draining soil.
Container - This is an excellent container plant.

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