Bird's Nest Fern Victoria

Bird's Nest Fern 'Victoria' (Asplenium 'Victoria') is the crested form of the bird's nest fern, with wavy, forked tips on each frond instead of the plain strap of the common type. It grows to about 80cm tall and 1m across, forming the rosette that gives the plant its name. It is non toxic to cats and dogs, one of the safer choices for a household with pets.

Why you'll love it

• Safe around cats and dogs. Bird's nest ferns are listed as non toxic to both, so it can sit at floor level in a house with animals.
• Frond tips with real character. The crested, forked ends catch light differently to a plain frond, giving it movement even in a still corner.
• Genuinely low maintenance. It asks for shade, humidity and steady moisture, and beyond that needs almost nothing from you.
• The right scale for a courtyard. At around 1m across it fills a corner or a large pot without dominating a small space.

Where it works best

Indoors. This is the use it suits best. A bright bathroom, a shaded living room corner or a stairwell all work, and indoors your climate stops mattering, which counts with a frost tender plant.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A 300mm pot suits a single established plant. On a balcony, keep it under cover and out of direct sun and wind.

Feature planting in the garden. In tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens it can grow in the ground in deep shade, or be mounted in a tree fork the way it grows naturally.

Growing bird's nest fern in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light or full shade. Direct sun scorches the fronds within days, and hot sun through glass does the same. Outdoors it suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens only, because it is frost tender, so cool southern gardeners should grow it inside.

Soil. Loose, open and rich in organic matter. Use an orchid or premium potting mix with extra bark or perlite, and never pack soil into the central rosette, which needs to stay clear to shed water.

Water and feed. Keep the mix consistently moist without letting the pot sit in water, and water around the base rather than into the crown, since standing water there causes rot. Half strength liquid fertiliser monthly through spring and summer is all it needs.

Humidity and grooming. Group it with other plants or set the pot on a tray of pebbles in a dry room. Cut old brown fronds off at the base rather than partway, because a cut frond will not regrow its tip.

What to expect when it arrives

We supply this fern as tube stock, as 140mm plants in packs of ten and as 200mm plants in packs of six. Tubes are young, with only a few small fronds, and take a season or two to build a recognisable rosette. The larger plants are further along and can go straight into a decorative pot.

Ferns travel less easily than woody plants, so a bruised or creased frond is normal rather than a fault. Give it a week somewhere shaded and humid before moving it to its final position. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Getting the environment right for ferns
• Pet friendly indoor plants
• Ferns for shady areas
• Browse the indoor plant range

Common questions

Is it safe if my cat chews it?

Bird's nest ferns are listed as non toxic to cats and dogs, so a nibbled frond is not a poisoning risk. Repeated chewing will still spoil the plant, since damaged fronds do not repair.

Why are the frond tips turning brown?

Usually dry air, or water left sitting in the central rosette. Raise the humidity around the plant, water at the base, and cut spoiled fronds back to the base.

Can it grow outside?

In tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, yes, in deep shade with shelter from wind. It is frost tender, so anywhere that frosts it needs to come indoors for winter.