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Blue Star Fern Phlebodium aureum

Previously known as:

  • Polypodium aureum
Phonetic Spelling
flee-BOH-dee-um AW-re-um
Description

This epiphytic fern is native to the tropical eastern coasts of the Americas and is commonly grown as a houseplant.  It is a rhizomatous fern, spreading by its roots that are densely covered in golden scales, giving the fern its name.  Ideal growing conditions include partial sun, medium humidity and moist but not soggy, soil.  

The fronds are large and deeply lobed, from 12-50 inches long and 4–20 inches wide, in the wild. The evergreen fronds have up to 35 pinnae that vary in color from bright green to green-blue or silver-green or gray-green in some cultivars. They have undulate margins. Spore sori are round and run along each side of the pinna midrib. The tiny spores are wind-dispersed.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: 

Monitor for spider mites, thrips, Florida Fern Caterpillar, and fungus gnats. Potential diseases include crown rot and root rot. Browning of fronds usually indicates that the plant needs higher humidity while curling is common symptom of low humidity and underwatering . 

VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Davana'
    compact, glaucous blue, wavy leaf margins
'Davana'
Tags:
#evergreen#houseplant#epiphytic#fern#deer resistant#container plant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Davana'
    compact, glaucous blue, wavy leaf margins
'Davana'
Tags:
#evergreen#houseplant#epiphytic#fern#deer resistant#container plant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Phlebodium
    Species:
    aureum
    Family:
    Polypodiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southeast United States, Caribbean to South Tropical America
    Distribution:
    Native: Argentina, Bahamas, Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, and the United States--AL, FL, and GA. Introduced: Canary Islands, Cape Provinces, Hawaii, India, Madeira, Queensland, and Sri Lanka
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Heavy shade, Deer
    Climbing Method:
    Scrambler
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Epiphyte
    Fern
    Houseplant
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Cascading
    Climbing
    Creeping
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    3 feet-6 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Slippery
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Fronds
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Other/more complex
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    > 6 inches
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Blue
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Small Space
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Attracts:
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Heavy Shade
    Urban Conditions
    Wind