Please make sure JavaScript is enabled.
 
Common Staghorn Fern in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Platycerium bifurcatum

 

Common Staghorn Fern

Polypodiaceae ferns are found in wet climates, most commonly in rain forests. Most species in temperate area are epiphytic or epipetric, and usually in damp areas, near streams, rivers or lakes. Staghorn ferns are evergreen, epiphytic ferns. They have pendent arching fronds that divide into strap-shaped segments that bear brown spore patches under the tips.

 
plant Features
  • Common Staghorn Fern likes partial shade

    Partial shade

  • Common Staghorn Fern likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

  • Common Staghorn Fern is not frost hardy

    Not Frost hardy

  • Common Staghorn Fern likes rich and free draining

    Rich and free draining

 
plant information

Common name

Common Staghorn Fern

Latin name

Platycerium bifurcatum

type

Fern

family

Polypodiaceae

ph

6.5 - 7.3 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Common Staghorn Fern likes partial shade

    Partial shade

  • Frost

    Common Staghorn Fern is not frost hardy

    Not Frost hardy

  • Soil

    Common Staghorn Fern likes rich and free draining

    Rich and free draining

  • Water

    Common Staghorn Fern likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

Plant & bloom calendar

  •  
    Best time to plant

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Common Staghorn Fern is 1.00meters x 0.50meters 1.00 M 0.50 M

Platycerium bifurcatum

Polypodiaceae ferns are found in wet climates, most commonly in rain forests. Most species in temperate area are epiphytic or epipetric, and usually in damp areas, near streams, rivers or lakes. Staghorn ferns are evergreen, epiphytic ferns. They have pendent arching fronds that divide into strap-shaped segments that bear brown spore patches under the tips.


Planting young plants

From Early Spring TO Early Spring

Plant ferns in spring and water them well in the first growing season, soaking the soil to a depth of 10cm. Dig plenty of leaf mould or wellrotted manure into the soil to add humus and apply a mulch of the same material round terrestrial ferns in spring.

 

Propagation from spores

From Late Autumn TO Early Winter

All ferns can be propagated by spores, but there are alternative methods that are simpler, produce more reliable, and quicker results, such as division. To propagate from spores, remove a portion of spore bearing frond when the capsules are brown and place it in a paper envelope to dry. The spores are ready for sowing when they start to be released as a yellow-brown dust. In spring, sterilise a container and an equal parts mix of coir and sand with boiling water. level the surface and cover until cool.. Collect a small amount of spores using the point of a knife and sow them thinly on the mix. Recover the container with cling film and cover the lot with a newspaper until germination occurs. It can take several months. Keep moist by placing the container in water regularly. Once small plants have developed, carefully prick them out and move into pans with the same mixture. When large enough to handle, harden them off and pot on singly.

 

Propagating by division

From Mid Spring TO Late Spring

Using a fork dig up plant, trying to keep the root ball as complete as possible. Split the root ball at the centre with a sharp knife or a spade, or by placing two garden forks back-to-back into the middle of the root ball, and pushing the fork handles apart.to lever the root ball apart. Replant the new clumps to the same depth as the original, and water well. Keep well watered until established.

 
Subscribe to GardenTags Premium to get personalised planting tasks and more for your entire plant collection
 
Gardeners who are growing this plant
>