This Japanese birds nest fern isn't only stunning, but huge too! Below I've held up a frond with my hand for a size comparison, and I can't wait to put this gigantic centerpiece in my Balinese themed garden, right under the bottlebrush and pineapple guava. Japanese birds nest ferns have narrower leaves and a v shaped cross section, and the best part is, they're super freeze hardy for florida standards! Check out Floridagirl's post freeze entry for a picture of one after a freeze.
Below are two ferns at Kanapaha, the first grown in a moist shady condition in the woods and the second in a dry succulent rock garden. Apart from maybe needing some fertilizer, they look pretty good! I've heard that the best thing for these is putting banana peels in the crown for potassium... I'll have to try that. My point is that these ferns have done well in zone 8 with no protection for years. Even the tropical birds nest ferns can make it if you protect the crown in frosts and freezes.
If you want to see how huge these epiphytic ferns can get, check out this link for one with a 10 foot diameter! Mine's plenty big for now...
We have birds nest ferns that grow around the trunk of the tree. I also have one that sits in the apex of two branches of my lychee tree. the outer leaves of ours eventually become divided though - more ferny.
ReplyDeleteOMG! I used to live right down the street from Kanapaha Gardens! WOW...great memories!
ReplyDeleteIt's an amazing fern. Over here, the plant can just flourish in any circumstances... on trees, in pots, road side... any way.
ReplyDeleteDo watch out for the little fernplants that might sprout underneath the roots, you can nurse these babies and have more birdnest plant.
ReplyDeleteThese grow everywhere - drainside, roofgutters, treebarks - so much so, they are considered as a weed.
A cold hardy birdsnest fern? Wow. I have tried growing the other kind over and over but they have been killed in winter and never made a recovery. I'll have to be on the look-out for this one. But I bet it's pricey!
ReplyDeleteRFG: Oh, I am so glad that you wrote this post since I just bought one from houseplant section of the Lowes this past weekend! One of center frond got damaged, which I am tring to resue now. Anyway, that is great information. The link you gave at the end is amazing. I guess I need to give it a big space to grow if I ever put it in the ground. Right now it is still in a tiny 3-inch pot, long way to go :)
ReplyDeleteOh, NanaK, forgot to tell you, the plant is not very pricey when it is small. The one I got from Lowes is $4.98. Just for your reference...:)
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