Blue Star Fern

Blue Star Fern (Phlebodium aureum) is a shade loving fern with upright, wavy, blue green fronds that gain more lobes as the plant matures. It reaches 60cm to 90cm tall but only 30cm to 40cm wide, so it fits tight spots, and it is equally at home in a shaded rock garden, a pot or the fork of an old tree.

Why you'll love it

• A cool blue green leaf. The fronds are a soft blue green rather than the usual fern green, which sets it apart from every other plant in the bed.
• Lobes that deepen with age. Young fronds are simple, and mature ones become more elaborately lobed, so the plant gains character each year.
• Slim and upright. At around 30cm to 40cm wide it takes up little ground and suits narrow shaded borders and pots.
• Flexible about where it grows. It will go in the ground, in a container or into a tree fork in the manner of a staghorn.
• Low fuss. Water, a little feed, and the occasional tidy are all it asks for.

Where it works best

Shaded borders. Plant 40cm apart in a row along a shady path or wall for a slim, upright edge of blue green fronds.

Containers and indoors. It suits pots outdoors on a shaded verandah and indoors in a bright room. Rotate indoor plants every so often so growth stays even.

Rock gardens and tree forks. Plant it in a shady rockery, or wedge a young plant in the fork of an old tree, where the roots can grip the bark.

Growing Blue Star Fern in Australia

Position and climate. A shaded location suits it best. It thrives in the humidity of tropical and subtropical gardens and can be grown in warm temperate ones too, but it must be protected from frost, so keep it in a pot that can be moved under cover where winters bite.

Soil. Use free draining soil or potting mix. Mulch after planting to retain moisture and to even out soil temperature while the young plant establishes.

Water and feed. Keep it moist during dry periods. Apply a slow release fertiliser in spring and a liquid feed every four weeks in the warmer months, diluted to half the recommended strength because ferns burn easily.

Pruning. Trim off damaged or tired fronds as needed. Repot container plants only when they are clearly outgrowing the pot.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Blue Star Fern as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, in 140mm pots in packs of 10, in 200mm pots in packs of 6 and as single 300mm pots. A tube arrives as a small fern with a few simple fronds. The more elaborate lobed fronds develop as it matures. Choose the larger pots if you want shape and presence in the first year.

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

• Fern care: light, humidity and placement
• Ferns for shady areas
• More indoor plants
• Plants for partial shade

Common questions

Are the furry roots a problem?

No. Furry aerial roots can appear on this fern and are completely normal. Leave them be, or lightly cover them with mulch or potting mix.

Can it live indoors?

Yes. Give it a bright position without direct sun, keep it evenly moist and rotate the pot now and then so the fronds grow evenly.

Does it handle frost?

No, protect it from frost. In cold districts grow it in a pot and move it into shelter over winter, or choose a warm, sheltered spot against a wall.