The blue star fern is in the polypody family (Polypodiaceae), native to the American tropics and is commonly grown as a houseplant. It is an herbaceous perennial, rhizomatous epiphyte, spreading by its creeping rhizomes that are densely covered in golden scales. The species epithet is Latin for “golden” and references the color of the scales on the rhizome. Cultural conditions should mimic the natural conditions this plant experiences in the wild. Ideal growing conditions include partial sun, medium to high humidity, good air circulation and a moist but not soggy substrate. It needs a loose, organic substrate with an acid pH. It tolerates drying out between waterings. It is often grown in a hanging basket, which gives excellent air circulation and shows off the fuzzy, golden rhizomes. The fronds are large and deeply lobed, from 12 to 50 inches long and 4 to 20 inches wide. The evergreen fronds vary in color from bright green to blue-green or gray-green in some cultivars. They have undulate margins. Spore sori are round and run along each side of the pinna midrib. This fern can be used as a houseplant or in containers outside or in woodlands or shade gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for spider mites, thrips, Florida fern caterpillar, and fungus gnats. Potential diseases include crown rot and root rot. Browning of fronds usually indicates that the plant needs higher humidity while curling is a common symptom of low humidity and underwatering. VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington , Director of JC Raulston Arboretum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Southeast United States, Caribbean to South Tropical America
Distribution
Native: Argentina, Bahamas, Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, and the United States--AL, FL, and GA. Introduced: Canary Islands, Cape Provinces, Hawaii, India, Madeira, Queensland, and Sri Lanka
Attracts
Songbirds
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Houseplants; Patio; Small Space; Woodland