Silver Lady Fern

Silver Lady Fern (Blechnum gibbum 'Silver Lady') is a miniature tree fern reaching about 90cm tall and 90cm wide, forming a short dark trunk with age and holding a symmetrical rosette of finely divided fronds above it. It gives you the architecture of a tree fern at a scale that fits a pot, a courtyard corner or a shady doorway. It is also not toxic to cats or dogs, which makes it an easy pick for households with pets.

Why you'll love it

• Tree fern shape without the size. The same tiered rosette and slender trunk as a full sized tree fern, at a manageable 90cm.
• Genuinely symmetrical. Fronds radiate evenly from the crown, so one plant looks composed from every angle with no shaping.
• Pet friendly. Not toxic to cats or dogs, so it can sit at floor level indoors without worry.
• Works inside and out. Happy indoors in a bright corner, or outdoors in a sheltered shady bed in warm climates.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. A 300mm to 400mm pot suits a single plant and shows off the trunk. Most people grow it this way, since a pot can move out of cold snaps and dry wind.

Indoors. Bright indirect light near an east facing window is ideal. Keep it away from heating and cooling vents, which dry the fronds fast.

Balconies and understorey. In tropical and subtropical gardens, plant 1m apart under established trees for a soft understorey.

Growing Silver Lady Fern in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade or filtered light, never direct afternoon sun, which scorches the fronds. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens and loves humidity. Be clear about the limit: this fern is frost tender. In Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart and Adelaide, grow it in a pot that comes under cover for winter.

Soil. Rich, free draining and high in organic matter. Use a quality potting mix with extra compost or coir, and improve garden beds heavily with compost.

Water and feed. Keep the mix consistently damp but never soggy, and check pots twice a week in summer. Dry air is the usual cause of crisp frond tips. Feed with a diluted liquid fertiliser monthly through spring and summer.

Pruning. Cut old or damaged fronds off at the base as they age. Never remove the tight new fronds curled at the centre of the crown, since that is where future growth comes from.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 140mm packs of ten, 200mm packs of six and 250mm packs of three, plus single 300mm and 400mm plants. The smaller packs are young rosettes with no visible trunk yet. The 300mm and 400mm plants are the ones for an immediate feature.

Ferns dislike travelling in the dark, so some frond droop on arrival is normal. Unpack promptly, water it in, keep it out of direct sun and it recovers within a fortnight. The trunk develops slowly over several years. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Creating the right conditions for ferns
• Browse ferns for shaded positions
• Compare more plants that are safe around pets
• Find plants suited to balconies and courtyards

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Yes. Silver Lady Fern is not toxic to cats or dogs, so it suits a floor level pot in a household with pets. As with any plant, discourage animals from chewing it, since plant material can still upset a stomach.

Can it handle frost?

No. It is frost tender and cold damages the fronds quickly. In cool southern gardens grow it in a pot that can move under cover for winter, or keep it indoors permanently.

Why are the frond tips going brown and crisp?

Almost always dry air, or a mix that dried out too far between waterings. Move it away from heating vents and draughts, keep the mix evenly damp, and lift the humidity with a pebble tray.