Mother spleenwort

Sun

Partial to full shade; protect from strong afternoon sun.

Water

Keep evenly moist but not waterlogged. Container plants need watering before the compost dries out completely.

Soil

Humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil with good drainage; slightly acidic to neutral conditions are suitable.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Spread

2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m)

Foliage

Evergreen. Soft, bright to mid-green, finely divided fronds arch from a central crown. Mature fronds can carry small plantlets on their upper surfaces.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Medium

• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

3. After 2 years

   2 ft (0.6 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.5 ft (0.75 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water at soil level to keep the root zone consistently moist, without leaving pots standing in water.
• Apply leaf mould or fine compost around outdoor plants in spring, keeping it clear of the crown.
• Feed container plants monthly during active growth with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength.
• Shelter from drying wind, hot sun and exposed frost pockets.
• Move containers into a bright, frost-free room before frost; keep them away from radiators and heating vents.

Pruning. Remove brown, damaged or dead fronds at their bases in spring or whenever needed, using clean secateurs. Leave healthy green fronds intact rather than cutting the whole plant back.

Spring

Remove damaged fronds and refresh the surface mulch without covering the crown.

Spring

Plant or repot once frost risk has passed, using a humus-rich, freely draining growing medium.

Late spring

Begin dilute feeding for container plants as new fronds expand.

Summer

Check soil moisture frequently during hot or windy weather and maintain shade.

Summer

Peg a frond carrying developed plantlets onto moist compost to encourage rooting.

Autumn

Bring containers under frost-free cover before cold weather and stop feeding as growth slows.

Winter

Water sheltered plants sparingly but do not let the root ball dry out completely.

• Plant beneath trees and shrubs where the soil stays moist, using its fine fronds to soften larger leaves.
• Use in a sheltered courtyard container beside hostas or other shade-loving foliage plants.
• Repeat small groups along a shaded path for a low, arching green edge.
• Combine with mosses and shade-tolerant groundcovers in a humid woodland-style corner.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Green on green, Secret garden, Modern courtyard, Tropical and Moss and fern garden.

Plant it with: Hosta, Hellebore, Barrenwort, Japanese forest grass and Soft shield fern.

Wildlife: Dense fronds provide sheltered, humid cover for small invertebrates. It produces neither flowers nor nectar.

• Brown, crisp frond edges usually indicate dry soil, drying wind or low indoor humidity; restore even moisture and move the plant to a more sheltered position.
• Bleached or scorched fronds indicate excessive direct sun; provide shade, especially during the afternoon.
• Yellowing fronds and a soft crown can follow waterlogging; improve drainage, empty pot saucers and avoid burying the crown.
• Scale insects or mealybugs may infest plants under cover; inspect frond undersides and remove small infestations by hand, using a labelled treatment if needed.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No part is recognised as poisonous, but it is not a food plant and eating foliage may cause digestive upset.

• Shining mother fern (Asplenium × lucrosum)

  This hybrid is often sold as mother fern. Its fronds are generally glossier, thicker and more coarsely divided than those of true Asplenium bulbiferum; both can produce plantlets.

The species name bulbiferum means bulb-bearing, referring to the small plantlets on the fronds, which also explain the common name mother spleenwort.

Propagation. Root the plantlets produced on mature fronds. Peg a plantlet-bearing frond onto moist potting compost, keep it shaded and humid, and separate the young plants once they have rooted securely. Spores are another, slower option.

Accepted botanical name

Asplenium bulbiferum

Native range

Antipodean Is., Chatham Is., Marianas, New Zealand North and New Zealand South.

Measured

Average height 45 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.