Scientific Name: Nephrolepis exaltata (Boston fern), Nephrolepis cordifolia (Erect Sword fern - cultivar), Nephrolepis obliterata (Kimberley Queen fern - cultivar)

Aliases: boston fern, boston swordfern, wild boston fern, tuber ladder fern, fishbone fern, kimberley queen fern (cultivar), sword fern (cultivar), fluffy ruffles fern (cultivar), dallas fern (cultivar), golden boston fern (cultivar)

Family: Lomariopsidaceae (fern family)

Mature Plant Size: 2-3' tall by 3-4' wide

Type: Arching, perennial (in USDA zones 9-11)

Growth Rate: Medium to fast

Light Requirements: Prefers medium to bright filtered light; will tolerate partial or even full shade

Moisture Requirements: Consistently damp, but not soggy soil; keep soil moist but well drained; somewhat drought tolerant

Soil Requirements: Well draining, nutrient rich soil with decomposed organic matter; mixture of peat moss, sterile potting soil, and perlite

Natural Habitat: Boston fern is native to Florida, the West Indies, and the Asian Pacific

Care Recommendations: Boston fern should be placed in medium to bright filtered light, although it will easily tolerate partial or even full shade. Ferns require temperatures between 60-80 degrees F and require humidity of at least 60 percent, making them suitable plants for bathrooms and kitchens. The soil for the Boston fern should be consistently damp but not soggy, and should always be well-draining to prevent mold growth or rot. This plant may be watered more frequently during the summer. Note that foliage may develop a faded green look if soil is kept too dry. During winter months when the plant is not in active growth, watering should be reduced slightly. During active growth and when new fronds are developing, a nitrogen rich fertilizer may be applied up to once per month with a foliage plant food diluted to half-strength.

Propagation: Boston fern may be propagated by division or by spores. To propagate by division, remove the plant from its pot, and then divide at the joints by cutting and repotting the divided portions in suitable potting mix. Propagation by division is recommended during early spring after the plant begins producing new fronds.

Boston fern may also be propagated by spores after the spores on the backs of fronds have fully ripened during late summer. To do so, remove a leaf with spores on the underside from the fern and allow it to dry out completely in a dark, dry place. Once the leaf has dried, shake the ripened spores from the back of the fronds onto a piece of paper. Several of the spores should appear on the paper as black dot-like structures. These spores may be carefully placed in a clear plastic bag of sterile peat-based potting mix, and watered from the bottom. Spores are more likely to germinate if kept at a constant 70 degrees F. New ferns may then take from one week up to two months to develop, after which they may be removed from the bag, divided into clumps, and potted up separately.

Pests and Diseases: Boston fern is susceptible to aphids, mites, mealy bugs, and scale. Aphids and mites may be treated and prevented by showering the plant occasionally, while mealy bugs and scale may be treated with horticultural oil. Root rot is also a frequent problem with ferns, and may be rectified or avoided by ensuring that the plant is in a container with adequate drainage, is in proper soil, and is not being overwatered.

Additional Information:

Boston fern received its name because the original plant was actually found in a shipment of ferns to Boston, Massachusetts in 1894. Boston fern is the most common commercially available fern, is easy to grow, and has several available cultivars. These include Dallas with its tolerance of low lighting conditions and its compact appearance, Fluffy Ruffles with its finely separated curly leaves and feather-like fronds, Fluffy Ruffles Upright with its curly fronds that stand upright and rigid, Golden Boston with its somewhat yellowish foliage, and Roosevelt with its upright fronds that are slightly separated.

Boston fern has arching fronds and makes a perfect houseplant.

A common cultivar of the Nephrolepis genus of Boston ferns is the Kimberly Queen fern.