Platycerium bifurcatum

RHS Plant Profile
common staghorn fern

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common staghorn fern visionspictures.com
common staghorn fern visionspictures.com

Other common names

antelope ears, Australian elk's horn fern, common stag's horn fern, elkhorn fern

Synonyms

Platycerium alcicorne misapplied

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An evergreen, epiphytic fern with heart-shaped sterile fronds and grey-green, arching, fertile fronds to 90cm in length, forked into strap-shaped segments, bearing brown spore patches beneath the tips

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H1B
Drought Resistance
Yes

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Polypodiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Tufted
Genus
Platycerium are evergreen, epiphytic ferns with short rhizomes, and a tuft of rounded or heart-shaped sterile fronds, sometimes lobed on the upper margin, and erect or pendent, grey-green fertile fronds which are usually repeatedly forked
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Asia Polynesia Australia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass grow epiphytically in equal parts leaf mould, coarse peat, sphagnum moss, loam and charcoal in bright filtered light. When in growth water freely in high humidity and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. Water sparingly in winter. Can be grown outdoors epiphytically. See Epiphytic Ferns for further advice

Propagation

Sow spores when ripe or detach plantlets

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Low Maintenance

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects

Diseases

Generally disease-free