Blue Star Fern
Also known as: Phlebodium Aureum
Light
Low
Water
Moderate
Humidity
Average
Size
Medium
30-90 cm (1-3 ft)
✓ Pet Safe
Blue Star Fern is non-toxic and safe for homes with cats and dogs.
Care Requirements
About the Blue Star Fern
The Blue Star Fern (Phlebodium aureum) is native to the tropical and subtropical Americas, from the southern United States to South America, where it grows as an epiphyte on trees and rocks. Its broad, lobed, blue-green fronds have a distinctive silvery-blue powdery coating and a wavy, ruffled texture. The creeping rhizome is covered with fuzzy, golden-orange scales. Unlike many ferns, it is remarkably tolerant of lower humidity and less frequent watering, making it one of the most adaptable ferns for typical indoor conditions. Its unique blue-grey coloring provides a cool-toned contrast in plant groupings.
Origin: Americas
Care Tips
Prefers medium indirect light; can handle lower light but grows slowly. Avoid direct sun, which bleaches the blue coloring. Water when the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry -- more forgiving than most ferns, it tolerates brief dry periods without drama. However, do not let it dry out completely. Average household humidity is adequate, though it appreciates occasional misting. Feed monthly during the growing season with a diluted liquid fertilizer. Keep the furry rhizome above the soil surface when potting. This fern is pet-safe. Propagate by dividing the rhizome in spring, or by spore collection from the round sori on frond undersides.
Is This Plant Right for You?
Best For
- Low light rooms and offices
- Beginners and busy plant parents
- Homes with cats and dogs
- Improving indoor air quality
Not Ideal For
- No major concerns!
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