Blue Star Fern
Phlebodium aureum
An epiphytic fern with broad, deeply lobed fronds in a soft blue-green hue and fuzzy golden-brown rhizomes. It is more forgiving than many ferns and tolerates average household humidity.
- Light
- Medium to bright indirect light
- Water
- Keep evenly moist; avoid soggy
- Difficulty
- Moderate
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Overview
The Blue Star Fern is an epiphytic fern named for the bluish cast of its leathery, finger-lobed fronds. In nature it grows on tree trunks and branches rather than in soil.
Its creeping rhizomes are covered in golden-brown, fuzzy scales, lending it the alternate name golden polypody. Compared with finicky maidenhair or button ferns, it handles drier indoor air gracefully, making it a great choice for fern lovers wary of high-maintenance species.
How to identify it
Recognize it by broad, lobed blue-green fronds rising from a furry, creeping rhizome.
- Fronds: large, deeply lobed (pinnatifid), leathery, with a distinctive blue-green tint
- Rhizome: thick, creeping, surfaced with golden-brown fuzzy scales
- Spores: round orange-brown sori in two rows on the frond undersides
- Habit: epiphytic; rhizome creeps along the soil surface or bark
- Size: fronds reach 1-3 ft long
Care & growing
Light: Medium to bright indirect light; protect from direct sun, which scorches the fronds.
Water: Keep the mix evenly moist but never waterlogged; let the surface barely dry between waterings. Avoid burying the rhizome.
Soil: Loose, airy, well-draining epiphytic or orchid-bark blend.
Temperature: 60-80F with moderate humidity; tolerates average rooms.
Feeding: Half-strength fertilizer occasionally during growth.
Propagation: Divide the rhizome, keeping a growing tip and some fronds on each piece.
Habitat & origin
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, from the southeastern United States through Central and South America and the Caribbean.
In the wild it grows as an epiphyte on trees and rocks in humid forests. Indoors it is grown as a houseplant and is well suited to bright bathrooms and kitchens.
Frequently asked questions
Why are the frond tips turning brown?
Usually dry air or inconsistent watering. Raise humidity, keep the soil evenly moist, and keep it out of direct sun and hot drafts.
Should I bury the fuzzy rhizome?
No. Let the rhizome rest on the surface of the mix. Burying it can cause it to rot.
Does it need high humidity?
It prefers moderate humidity but is more tolerant of average household air than most ferns, which makes it relatively easy to keep happy.
Blue Star Fern guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Blue Star Fern.
