Grew two of these in shady outdoor entrance (zone 8B) and they do amazingly well. These are big, glossy, impressive ferns and yet seem to be easy to please. They can get massive in this area, almost look like they belong on a Jurassic Park movie set. Somehow they don’t seem to be as well-known as other varieties but they’re gorgeous. I was asked if ours were actually real. Love.
Macho Fern Nephrolepis biserrata
Exposure
- Bright Light
- Part Shade to Shade
Flower Season
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Mature Size
Height: 3' - 4'
Spread: 3' - 5'
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Details
Features
This massive, brawny fern forms a giant, cascading mound of bright green, glossy fronds that can reach four feet in length. It dwarfs Boston ferns by comparison. Macho fern needs little light to thrive, so this is the perfect fern to use in large urns on a covered porch or patio, or in large hanging baskets under the eaves of a building. Just be sure to give it plenty of moisture and site it out of the way of strong winds and afternoon sun. Since macho fern requires well-drained soil, it is more commonly grown in containers rather than in the landscape. It makes a magnificent monoculture container and if you can’t bear to part with it at the end of the season, you can bring it inside and grow it as a houseplant.
This is a large fern with bright green foliage. It can be grown indoors in bright light indoors or in part shade to shade outdoors.
Adaptable As HouseplantFoliage InterestDeadheading Not NecessaryCharacteristics
Plant Type:AnnualHeight Category:MediumGarden Height:36 - 48 InchesSpacing:36 - 40 InchesSpread:36 - 60 InchesFoliage Colors:GreenFoliage Shade:greenHabit:MoundedContainer Role:FillerPlant Needs
Light Requirement:Bright LightLight Requirement:Part Shade to ShadeThe optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).
Maintenance Category:EasyBloom Time:Grown for FoliageHardiness Zones:9a, 9b, 10a, 10bWater Category:ConsistentNeeds Good DrainageUses:Bright SpacesUses:ContainerUses:ContainersUses:Humid SpacesUses Notes:Use in large containers indoors or outdoors. This plant can be grown indoors as a houseplant, or outdoors in shady spots when the temperatures are above 50 degrees.
Maintenance Notes:Grow this fern in shade to partial shade outdoors and in bright light indoors for a miniumum of 4 hours a day. It will not tolerate sun. It can be overwintered indoors. Well drained soil is crucial to success with Macho. Consistently moist soil will help it thrive, but it cannot tolerate wet soils over time or sustained dry soils. Well drained soil is necessary. Temperatures between 50 and 80 F are ideal.
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1 Review
514321Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.-
Virginia Charlot, Georgia, United States, 40 weeks ago
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