Variegated Giant Sword Fern

Variegated Giant Sword Fern (Nephrolepis biserrata 'Variegata') gives scale and pattern from one plant. It reaches about 1.2m tall and 1.2m across, with long arching fronds irregularly streaked in cream and lime against mid green. It grows fast, takes a pot indoors or out, and is not toxic to cats or dogs.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage that does the work of a flower. Ferns produce spores, not blooms, so the cream and lime variegation carries the plant year round.
• Size, quickly. A fast grower that fills a 400mm pot or a shaded corner in a season or two.
• Safe around pets. Nephrolepis is a recognised non toxic genus for cats and dogs, so it can sit at floor level.
• It forgives damp soil. Wet feet tolerant, so it holds in a low spot or an over watered pot where other ferns fail.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. A 400mm pot or wider gives the fronds room to arch and spill over the rim. Use a mix that holds moisture.

Indoors. Bright indirect light near a window, away from air conditioning vents, which dry the frond tips faster than anything else.

Shaded gardens and courtyards. Plant 1m apart under trees and the fronds meet into a lush understorey within a year. It does not need direct sun, so south facing balconies work too.

Growing Variegated Giant Sword Fern in Australia

Position and climate. Partial shade or filtered light, since harsh afternoon sun scorches the pale sections of the fronds first. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It is frost tender, so cool temperate and inland gardens need it indoors or in a protected courtyard.

Soil. Rich and moisture retentive, opened up with compost or aged manure. It tolerates damp soil, but a pot still needs a drainage hole so the roots are not left in stagnant water.

Water and feed. Keep the mix consistently moist through the warm months and slightly drier in winter. Half strength liquid fertiliser monthly from spring to autumn is enough, and misting helps in dry indoor air.

Pruning. Cut tired or browned fronds back at the base rather than trimming the tips, since a cut frond never regrows its end. Divide congested clumps every two to three years.

What to expect when it arrives

Sold in one size, 180mm pots in packs of six, the right quantity for an understorey run. Each plant arrives established with several fronds and fills out quickly once potted on.

Ferns travel with some frond bruising and crisped tips. That is transit, not a fault, and the next flush comes through clean. Give it a shaded, humid spot for a fortnight before its final position. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Getting the environment right for ferns
• Browse ferns for shady areas
• Compare other plants that are safe for pets
• How variegated foliage works

Common questions

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. Nephrolepis is a recognised non toxic genus, so a chewed frond will not poison a pet. Still place the pot where a determined cat cannot strip it.

Will it grow indoors long term?

Yes, given bright indirect light and steady moisture. Indoor plants stay smaller than the 1.2m they reach outside, and dry air from heating or cooling is the usual cause of brown tips.

Will it survive frost?

No. It is frost tender, so in cool temperate or frosty inland gardens it belongs indoors or under a covered patio through winter.