About
Phlebodium aureum, the golden polypody, is a tender, epiphytic fern producing creeping, orange-brown, hairy rhizomes from which arise beautiful, wavy, blue-green, deeply lobed fronds to 40 cm or more. A popular and rewarding fern for a warm, shaded, humid position � excellent as a houseplant.
About the genus
Phlebodium are evergreen, epiphytic ferns with creeping rhizomes clothed in golden-brown scales and bearing deeply lobed, blue-green or grey-green fronds. Grown in warm, shaded, humid conditions as houseplants or greenhouse plants.
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeLoam
Soil pHNeutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectWest-facing, East-facing, North-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1B
Plant details
Plant typeFerns, Houseplants
HabitClump forming
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesHouseplants
Native toTropical America
Care notes
CultivationBest grown out of direct sunlight and away from cold drafts or direct heat sources. Water generously once you notice the pot drying out, continuing until water runs out of drainage holes at the bottom. See Epiphytic Ferns for further advice
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by division
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free