Histiopteris incisa
water fern
Australia, New Zealand, and warm temperate to tropical regions worldwide
Overview
Histiopteris incisa, water fern or bat's wing fern, is a vigorous, colony-forming fern with arching, triangular fronds 0.5-2 m (1.6-6.5 ft) tall. The fronds are twice-divided, soft-textured, and pale to blue-green, with a small pair of lobes at the base of the lower pinnae that suggest the shape of bat wings. A long-creeping underground rhizome spreads widely, so the plant forms broad patches 1-3 m (3-10 ft) or more across. It grows in moist forest, swampy ground, gullies, and disturbed or burnt sites across Australia, New Zealand, and many warmer regions worldwide. The fern is a fast pioneer after fire and clearing and can spread strongly under good conditions, crowding smaller plants. Spores form in continuous lines along the protected frond margins. The soft fronds are damaged by frost and scorch in dry, exposed positions, while the rhizome survives to reshoot in spring.
Native Range
Widely distributed through Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific, and warmer parts of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. It grows in moist forest, swamps, gullies, and disturbed or recently burnt ground.Suggested Uses
Grown as a groundcovering fern in moist, shaded native gardens, fern gullies, and bog gardens. Used for quick cover in damp, disturbed ground and along watercourses. Suited to large informal areas or containers where its spread can be contained.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1'8" - 6'7"
Width/Spread3'3" - 9'10"
Colors
Foliage Colors
Fall Foliage Colors
Bloom Information
Ferns do not flower. Histiopteris incisa reproduces by spores carried in continuous lines along the rolled-under margins of the fronds, ripening in the warmer months. New fronds unfurl in spring and through the growing season.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
pale to blue-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 3-6 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in part shade to full sun where the soil stays moist, in humus-rich, free-draining ground. Steady moisture suits it, and it tolerates wet and boggy soil better than dry conditions. The far-creeping rhizome spreads quickly, so a root barrier or container limits its spread in small gardens. Soft fronds are cut down by frost, after which the rhizome reshoots in spring. Hot, dry wind scorches the foliage. It needs little feeding and grows strongly in disturbed, moist soil.Pruning
Frost-burned or untidy fronds can be cut back to ground level in late winter before new growth appears. Cutting back also helps contain the spread of the colony. No other pruning is needed.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons