Overview
Phlebodium spp. is a small genus of about four species of epiphytic and terrestrial ferns in the Polypodiaceae, native to tropical and subtropical America. Plants grow from stout, creeping rhizomes 0.4-0.8 inch (1-2 cm) thick that are densely covered in golden-brown scales, a feature that gives the common name golden polypody. From the rhizome rise large, deeply pinnatifid fronds 1-4 feet (0.3-1.2 m) long, cut into broad lobes, in a colour that ranges from mid green to a blue- or grey-green, sometimes glaucous. The round sori on the undersides lack an indusium and turn orange-yellow as the spores ripen. Phlebodium aureum grows as an epiphyte on palm trunks and in leaf-litter pockets, as well as terrestrially on rock and humus. The genus is frost-tender, suited to warm, humid, frost-free conditions, and is widely grown as a houseplant and greenhouse fern. Fronds brown at the edges in dry air or harsh sun, and the creeping rhizomes outgrow small pots, the chief drawbacks indoors.
Native Range
Native to the warmer parts of the Americas, from the southeastern United States (Florida) and the Caribbean through Mexico and Central America to South America. Plants grow in humid forest as epiphytes on palms and other trees, and terrestrially on shaded rock, banks, and humus-rich ground.Suggested Uses
Grown as a houseplant, in conservatories, and in shaded, frost-free gardens, where the broad blue-green fronds and creeping golden rhizomes suit pots, hanging baskets, and epiphytic mounts. Outdoors in mild climates it is used as a groundcover or grown on palm trunks and walls. It combines with other shade- and humidity-tolerant foliage plants.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 4'
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Bloom Information
Ferns do not flower; Phlebodium spp. reproduces by spores. New fronds unfurl through the warm months, and the round sori on the frond undersides ripen from green to orange-yellow, releasing spores mainly in summer and autumn. In frost-free conditions the fronds are evergreen and present year-round.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
blue-green to grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-5 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
Phlebodium spp. are grown in bright, indirect light or part shade in a loose, free-draining, organic mix, with the scaly rhizome resting on the surface rather than buried. The medium is kept lightly moist and allowed to dry slightly between waterings, as a constantly wet rhizome rots. Warm temperatures and moderate to high humidity suit them, and they are frost-tender, hardy outdoors only in roughly USDA zones 9b-11. Soft or rain water and occasional weak feeding through the growing season keep fronds healthy. Propagation is by dividing the creeping rhizome or from spores. Dry indoor air browns the frond tips, so steady humidity helps.Pruning
Pruning is limited to cutting away old, browned, or damaged fronds at the rhizome to keep the plant tidy and make room for new growth. No other trimming is needed. Rhizomes that grow over the pot edge can be divided rather than cut back.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing