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Platycerium bifurcatum
Also called Common Staghorn Fern, Staghorn Fern
Elkhorn fern is an epiphytic fern with two frond types: flat shield-like nest fronds that cup around the host and antler-like fertile fronds that hang down. It is grown mainly for its dramatic foliage, and it does best mounted on a board or in a basket where its roots can cling and its nest fronds can catch debris for nutrients.
Platycerium bifurcatum, commonly known as elkhorn fern, is a species of epiphytic plant in the fern family Polypodiaceae. It is native to Australia and is widespread on the entire east coast.
Platycerium bifurcatum is commonly cultivated around the world as an ornamental plant. They are easily propagated by division and can be mounted on trees or boards, or grown in baskets. With a minimum temperature requirement of 5 °C (41 °F), in temperate regions it may be grown outdoors in sheltered locations, otherwise as a houseplant. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
This species is native to eastern Australia, from southern New South Wales to northern Queensland, including Lord Howe Island. In the southern areas it grows on trees and boulders in a variety of forest types, including swamp forest and open forest, while in north Queensland it grows mainly on trees in montane rainforest.
Platycerium alcicorne · Staghorn fern · Silver Elkhorn · Staghorn
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Platycerium bifurcatum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.
