Nephrolepis exaltata 'Tiger Fern'
The size of the plant and of its bag can vary a little from the photograph — each one grows at its own pace. We keep them as consistent as we can.
Overview
The showpiece of the sword ferns: a variegated selection with pinnae striped chartreuse and pale yellow over the usual green, so no two fronds are alike. The wild species is American — Florida and the West Indies through Mexico, Central America and South America, Costa Rica included — growing in humid forest both on the ground and up the trunks. That explains what it wants in the garden: shade, warmth and humidity, the conditions of the understory it comes from. It is among the most forgiving ferns there is, and in a hanging basket the arching frond shows at its best. The variegation is kept by dividing the clump, not by spores.
Culture
Warm and humid, between 18 and 27 °C, in bright light but out of direct sun: strong sun scorches the yellow parts of the frond, while deep shade dulls the variegation. Loose soil rich in organic matter that holds moisture and drains: always moist, never waterlogged. It likes humid air, so in dry spells mist it or group it with other plants. Multiply it by separating the offsets that come off the runners, leaving roots on each.
Edible Uses
Not eaten.
Medicinal
We don't offer it as a medicinal plant.
Traditional uses for information only. Not a substitute for advice from a health professional.
Agroforestry
In the catalog for its beauty, not for a role in an agroforestry system. It does provide cover wherever it is planted.