Rabbit's Foot Fern

This handsome plant features fine, lacy, green foliage.

Their common name, Rabbit’s Foot Fern, or Hare’s Foot Fern, or Spider Fern stems from their creeping rhizomes, which are decorative, soft and fuzzy. These rhizomes grow along the soil, and spill from the edges of your pot/hanging basket. You can even train the rhizomes to grow where you want them to. You could create all manner of strange effects.

Silver Rabbit’s Foot Fern makes a great house plant, patio plant or garden shade plant.

Size: 20-45cm x 20-45cm

Water Needs: Water fairly freely spring/summer and less in winter – every other week. The fronds will brown if they are lacking water. Just add water, then prune them off to keep the plant tidy. They appreciate some humidity – especially in homes with ducted heating/air conditioning. It isn’t as vital as for many house plants, so you might get away without it. But, you can provide some humidity for your beloved plant, by placing them over a plate with rocks and water, this will naturally form humidity around the plant. Or if you want to get very fancy and grow a few of these tropical treats, purchasing a humidifier is a good investment – they are also good for you. Or you could grow it in a bathroom which naturally gets a good dose of steam. Or grow with other plants where the humidity will naturally form around the plants.

I will Survive: Bright, indirect light is ideal. You should be able to read during the day in their position in the room without turning on a light. They can grow in artificial light and will need 8-10 hours of this a day – good news for the office.

Their ideal temperature range is 14-28C but are quite resilient.

A diluted liquid fertiliser in spring/summer will keep them happy and healthy.

Repot in spring, only as they overcrowd their current home, ensure you keep the crown above the soil when you do.

If you have an open fire place, they would be best in another room over the winter as they resent smoke in poorly ventilated areas.