Silvery Moon Dwarf Sickle Fern

Silvery Moon Dwarf Sickle Fern (Pellaea falcata 'Silvery Moon') is a decorative native fern with silver-sheened fronds, grown for shady borders, pots and bathrooms. It reaches about 50cm tall and 30cm wide, and the offset fernlets along each frond overlap slightly for a layered look. The sheen is stronger than on the wild form.

Why you'll love it

• A silver sheen. The foliage shimmers silver, lighting up shady corners where green ferns can look flat.
• A native fern. Its parent grows wild on the east coast, in rainforest and eucalypt bush, from Tasmania and Victoria to Queensland and Lord Howe Island.
• A layered look. The fernlets sit slightly offset along the central stem, so they overlap and add texture.
• Flexible planting. It suits containers, terrariums and indoor gardens, and can even grow as an epiphyte in tree crooks and wall crevices.
• Low maintenance. Bright filtered light, steady moisture and the odd old frond removed is about all it needs.

Where it works best

Shady tropical gardens. Plant 30cm apart as underplanting beneath trees, or alongside a pond or water feature where the humidity helps.

Pots, terrariums and indoors. Grow it in a container in a bright room out of direct sun, or as part of a shaded indoor garden.

Crevices and tree crooks. Pellaeas can be grown as epiphytes, tucked into the crook of a tree or a crevice in a wall or rock.

Growing Silvery Moon Dwarf Sickle Fern in Australia

Position and climate. Bright filtered light or dappled shade, because too much direct sun scorches the leaves. It wants a frost free, humid position that stays above 15C, so it suits tropical and subtropical gardens, or indoors elsewhere.

Soil. Well-drained mix to avoid wet feet. Plant carefully so that the crown of the fern sits above the soil line, and mulch and water regularly until it establishes, usually around 12 weeks.

Water and feed. Keep it moist in dry periods, water little and often, and mist the leaves to keep humidity high. Apply a slow release fertiliser in spring or a liquid fertiliser every 4 weeks in warm months, diluted to half the recommended dose.

Pruning. Remove old fronds to keep the plant fresh and healthy. Re-pot container plants only when they outgrow their pots.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Silvery Moon Dwarf Sickle Fern as tube stock and in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Tube stock is a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once potted on or planted into a humid, shaded spot. The 140mm pots give you a fuller plant for a container or a terrarium. Plants travel upright, and a few warm weeks gets new fronds moving.

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
• More indoor plants
• More Australian native plants

Common questions

Can I grow it indoors?

Yes. It suits containers, terrariums and indoor gardens. Give it bright filtered light, mist the fronds to keep humidity up, and keep the mix moist but free-draining.

How deep should I plant it?

Plant carefully so that the crown of the fern sits above the soil line. Burying the crown invites rot.

Will it cope with cold?

It wants a frost free, humid position above 15C. In cooler districts grow it indoors, where it stays safe from winter cold.