Green Wave Fern

Green Wave Fern (Microsorum scolopendria 'Green Wave') is a slender tropical fern about 50cm tall and 20cm wide, with long apple-green leaves that twist as they grow. The twist gives every frond its own shape, so even a small clump looks lively. It suits shaded, humid, frost free spots, from a tropical garden bed to a pot beside a bright window.

Why you'll love it

• Leaves with a twist. Each long, narrow frond curls and waves differently, which gives the plant movement even on still days.
• Fresh apple green colour. The vibrant green lifts a dim corner and sets off darker, broader foliage nearby.
• Narrow enough for tight spots. At about 20cm wide it fits where a bigger fern would sprawl, such as a wall crevice, a gap in the rocks or the fork of a tree.
• Garden plant or houseplant. It grows outdoors in sheltered tropical gardens and does equally well as a houseplant elsewhere.
• Happy with a spray. Ferns like wet leaves better than wet roots, so a regular mist suits it and keeps the fronds fresh.

Where it works best

Tropical shade gardens. Use it as an underplanting beneath palms, gingers and shade trees. Plant 25cm apart and the slim clumps knit into a continuous, wavy layer.

Tree forks, walls and rocks. Tuck a plant into a crevice in a wall, a crack between rocks or the fork of a tree, with a handful of moist, free draining mix around the roots.

Pots and indoor rooms. In a pot it suits a bright spot out of direct sun, away from heaters and air conditioning.

Growing Green Wave Fern in Australia

Position and climate. Choose a shaded, sheltered, frost free position. It loves humidity, so tropical and subtropical gardens suit it best outdoors. Protect it from frost: an established plant may tolerate a light frost, but in cooler gardens it is safer in a pot that can come under cover.

Soil. Plant in free draining soil and mulch after planting to hold moisture and even out soil temperature while the young plant settles. In a pot, use a quality potting mix.

Water and feed. Keep the soil moist through dry spells and ease off in winter. Mist the leaves regularly. Apply a slow release fertiliser in spring, and a liquid feed every 4 weeks through the warmer months, diluted to half the recommended strength to avoid burn.

Pruning. Little is needed beyond removing damaged fronds at the base. Container plants should be re-potted when they outgrow their pots.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Green Wave Fern as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives small, so keep it in a shaded, sheltered spot while it settles, then pot it on or plant it out once it has taken hold.

Our grower supplies the tube stock and is not always able to. If the tube reads as sold out, press the notify button on this page and we will email you the day it returns.

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

• Ferns for shady areas
• Growing ferns in Australia: light, humidity and placement
• Palms, ferns and tropical plants
• More indoor plants

Common questions

Can Green Wave Fern grow indoors?

Yes. Give it bright, indirect light, mist the leaves often and keep it away from heaters and air conditioning. Re-pot when the roots outgrow the container.

How often should I water it?

Keep the mix moist during dry periods and cut back in winter. It prefers wet leaves to wet roots, so mist rather than soak.

Will frost damage it?

Protect it from frost. An established plant may tolerate a light frost, but where winters are cold it is best grown in a pot and moved under cover.