Many ferns and fern-like plants make wonderful houseplants to grow inside your home. There are so many types of ferns, you might be unsure where to begin when deciding which to grow.
Ferns Unveiled: A Variety Showcase
Foxtail Fern/ Asparagus Fern
Also known as asparagus fern, the foxtail fern is a southern African native often grown as a houseplant in temperate climes.
Though not a true fern, this plant’s fern-like foliage means that it is often mistaken for one, and has taken on its common name. It is closely related to the vegetable asparagus but is toxic to people and pets, so care should be taken if growing it inside your home.
- Common Name: Foxtail fern
- Botanical Name: Asparagus densiflorus
- Family: Asparagaceae
- Plant Type: Evergreen perennial
- Mature Size: 50cm up to nearly 1m in height and width
- Sun Exposure: Partial sun
- Soil Type: Well-drained, acidic, or neutral
- Hardiness Zones: 9a-11a
- Native Area: Southern Africa
Boston Fern
Boston fern is, perhaps, one of the most popular ferns to grow indoors. It is certainly a common choice – and with good reason. This is one of the easiest ferns to grow and is a little more tolerant of under-watering than most other ferns that are commonly grown indoors.
You can grow Boston ferns in any pot, or hanging container, in bright, indirect light, though it will do best in a humid room – like a light bathroom for example.
- Common Name: Boston Fern
- Botanical Name: Nephrolepis exaltata
- Family: Nephrolepidaceae
- Plant Type: Fern, herbaceous perennial
- Mature Size: 40cm-1m in height and width
- Sun Exposure: Partial sun
- Soil Type: Moist but well-drained, acidic
- Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12
- Native Area: S. and C. America, West Indies, Polynesia & Africa
Lemon Button Fern
This is a dwarf cultivar, a relative of the ubiquitous and ever-popular Boston fern, perfect for new houseplant parents and those without a huge amount of space for an indoor garden.
This fern is known for being not only compact but also resilient – less fussy than many other houseplant ferns. It also has fragrant foliage that smells lightly of lemon in the spring and summer months.
- Common Name: lemon button fern
- Botanical Name: Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’
- Family: Nephrolepidaceae
- Plant Type: Fern, rhizomatous
- Mature Size: c. 30cm in height and spread
- Sun Exposure: Partial sun or shade
- Soil Type: moist but well-drained, loam, acidic
- Hardiness Zones: 8a to 10b
- Native Area: Asia
Macho Fern
A larger relative of both of the above, the macho fern, or giant sword fern is a tropical fern that is popular as a houseplant for its dramatic, large, and impressive foliage.
This fern is a great choice if you have the space for a larger specimen inside your home.
- Common Name: Macho fern, giant sword fern
- Botanical Name: Nephrolepis biserrata
- Family: Nephrolepidaceae
- Plant Type: Fern
- Mature Size: Up to c. 1.2m high and 1.8m wide.
- Sun Exposure: Partial sun or shade
- Soil Type: Moist but well-drained, acidic
- Hardiness Zones: 9-10
- Native Area: Neotropics, African tropics, SE Asian tropics
Kimberley Fern
An Australian relative of the three ferns listed above, the Kimberley fern is also known as the Australian sword fern. This is another fern that is sometimes grown as a houseplant not only in Australia but globally.
One benefit of this fern is that it is more tolerant of a low-humidity environment than most of its relatives. So it can be easier to grow in central heated indoor spaces which can have a tendency to dry out.
- Common Name: Kimberley fern, Kimberley queen fern, Australian sword fern
- Botanical Name: Nephrolepsis obliterata
- Family: Nephrolepidaceae
- Plant Type: Fern, perennial
- Mature Size: 60 -90cm tall and 60cm – 1.2m wide
- Sun Exposure: Partial sun or shade
- Soil Type: Moist but well-drained, acidic or neutral
- Hardiness Zones: 9-11
- Native Area: Australia
Maidenhair Fern
There are about 250 different species of Adiantum known as maidenhair ferns, though only some are commonly grown indoors. The most common for indoor cultivation is Adiantum raddianum – Delta maidenhair ferns. However, there are also some other species to consider.
These are definitely fussier than some other ferns, and a little more challenging to grow successfully. But they are prized for their delicate leafy fronds and arching shape. For the best chances of success, grow it in a humid room, or terrarium.
- Common Name: Maidenhair Fern
- Botanical Name: Adiantum – e.g. A. raddianum, A. peruvianum, A. pedatum or A. aleutium, etc…
- Family: Pteridaceae
- Plant Type: Fern
- Mature Size: Up to c. 43-48cm tall and 56 cm wide.
- Sun Exposure: Partial sun or shade
- Soil Type: well-drained soil, neutral or slightly alkaline
- Hardiness Zones: 3-11 (depending on species)
- Native Area: Various (depending on species)
Crocodile Fern
With its leathery, crocodile-skin-like leaves, this fern is a popular houseplant too. It is prized not only for its interesting leaf texture and appearance but also for being quite easy to grow.
As long as they get plenty of water and moderately high humidity they can thrive indoors just as they do in the wild on a forest floor below the canopy.
- Common Name: Crocodile fern
- Botanical Name: Microsorum musifolium
- Family: Polypodiaceae
- Plant Type: Fern, rhizomatous
- Mature Size: 60cm – 1.5m in height and width
- Sun Exposure: Bright but indirect light, partial light, or shade
- Soil Type: Moist yet free-draining, slightly acidic or neutral
- Hardiness Zones: 10-11
- Native Area: SE Asia/ Australia
Staghorn Fern
Staghorn or elkhorn ferns take their name from the resemblance of their fronds to the antlers of stag or elk. There are 17 different species of Platycerium but only one is common to grow inside the home – P. bifurcatum.
These epiphytic plants are a little more challenging to grow than many other ferns. But they are increasingly popular with those looking to branch out and give something new a try. They are often mounted on wood on a wall rather than grown in pots, which can mean that they are a unique interior design statement for your home as well as add to your houseplant collection.
- Common Name: Staghorn Fern
- Botanical Name: Platycerium bifurcatum
- Family: Polypodiaceae
- Plant Type: Fern, epiphyte
- Mature Size: Around 60cm-1m in height and width
- Sun Exposure: Partial sun
- Soil Type: Moist yet free-draining, acidic
- Hardiness Zones: 9-12
- Native Area: Asia and Australia
Australian Tree Fern
Tree ferns native to Australasia are prized around the world for their dramatic forms, and it is possible to grow these indoors as well as outside in a suitable climate and conditions.
It is most common for temperate climate growers to place an Australian tree fern outside for the summer before bringing it indoors for the colder part of the year. But it is possible to grow one of these tree ferns indoors year-round as long as its environmental needs can be met.
- Common Name: Australian tree fern
- Botanical Name: Cyathea cooperi or Dicksonia antarctica
- Family: Cyatheaceae
- Plant Type: tree fern
- Mature Size: Up to c. 15m tall and 4-6m wide
- Sun Exposure: Partial sun
- Soil Type: Moist but well-drained, neutral or acidic
- Hardiness Zones: 8-11
- Native Area: Australia
Bird’s Nest Fern
The bird’s nest fern is a popular fern to grow indoors. It has large, banana-like fronds with a crinkled appearance. As the plant matures, fronds naturally curl and turn brown, and the plants’ old leaves look like giant nests up in the branches of the trees on which these epiphytes grow.
Indoors, as long as these ferns get plenty of warmth, moisture, and humidity they can be relatively straightforward to grow.
- Common Name: Bird’s Nest fern
- Botanical Name: Asplenium nidus
- Family: Aspleniaceae
- Plant Type: Fern, perennial, epiphyte
- Mature Size: 1-1.5m tall, 60cm-1m wide
- Sun Exposure: Partial sun or shade
- Soil Type: Moist but well-drained loam, acidic
- Hardiness Zones:11-12
- Native Area: Africa, Asia, Australia
Ostrich Fern
More commonly grown outdoors in a shady and moist location, ostrich fern can also potentially be grown as a houseplant indoors as long as you provide sufficient moisture at all times.
Just remember that while they will look good through summer, they will die back and remain dormant through the coldest part of the year. New growth will then emerge once more in the spring.
- Common Name: Ostrich fern
- Botanical Name: Matteuccia struthiopteris
- Family: Onocleaceae
- Plant Type: Fern, deciduous perennial
- Mature Size: 1-2 m tall, 1.5-2.5m wide
- Sun Exposure: Partial sun or shade
- Soil Type: Moist, acidic, or neutral
- Hardiness Zones: 3-7
- Native Area: N. America, Europe, and Asia
Autumn Fern
Autumn fern does not require as much watering as many other herbs and is relatively easy to grow in containers indoors. But it still needs to be watered frequently. You can grow it indoors only over the winter, or year-round.
Indoors, or outside in warmer climates, this is a fern that can keep its leaves year-round. It is only semi-evergreen though in cooler conditions.
- Common Name: Autumn fern, Japanese shield fern
- Botanical Name: Dryopteris erythrosora
- Family: Dryopteridaceae
- Plant Type: Fern, semi-evergreen
- Mature Size: 45-60cm in height and spread
- Sun Exposure: Shade
- Soil Type: Moist but well-drained, acidic
- Hardiness Zones: 5-9
- Native Area: Asia
Japanese Fern
This fern is a great choice for those looking for more color and interest from their ferns. Though usually grown outside it can also be grown indoors.
The key challenge is keeping these plants moist throughout the growing season. Remember, while they look good for much of the year, they should have a period of dormancy and die back in winter.
- Common Name: Japanese fern, Japanese painted fern
- Botanical Name: Athyrium niponicum
- Family: Athyriaceae
- Plant Type: Fern, perennial, deciduous, rhizomatous
- Mature Size: C. 60cm in height and width
- Sun Exposure: Partial sun or shade
- Soil Type: Moist yet well-drained, neutral, acidic, or alkaline
- Hardiness Zones: 3-8
- Native Area: Asia
Christmas Fern
As long as they get enough water, humidity, and indirect light, Christmas ferns can look good inside your home throughout the year.
These ferns are one of a great many ferns that will work well in a bathroom with some natural light, where they will enjoy the humid conditions.
- Common Name: Christmas fern
- Botanical Name: Polystichum acrostichoides
- Family: Dryopteridaceae
- Plant Type: Fern, perennial
- Mature Size: Up to c. 60cm in height and spread
- Sun Exposure: partial sun or shade
- Soil Type: Moist but well-drained, acidic or neutral
- Hardiness Zones: 3-9
- Native Area: N. America
Button Fern
Another popular houseplant fern, button ferns are evergreen ferns that can cope with less water than many other ferns. They are compact and easy to grow.
Though it is native to New Zealand, this is a plant that can be grown indoors in many other parts of the world. It tolerates low temperatures but must be kept above freezing.
- Common Name: Button Fern
- Botanical Name: Pellea rotundifolia
- Family: Pteridaceae
- Plant Type: Fern, perennial, evergreen
- Mature Size: Up to c. 60cm in height and spread
- Sun Exposure: partial sun or shade
- Soil Type: Well-drained, acidic, or neutral
- Hardiness Zones: 8-9
- Native Area: New Zealand
