Phlebodium aureum
Golden polypody, Rabbit's foot fern, Hare's foot fern
Also known as Polypodium aureum
- Height × spread
- 1.2m × 1m
- Position
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 10C & above (RHS H1b)
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
Delightful ferns that have thick solid fronds that branch, finger, (or indeed toe-like) from the central stem. They are often covered with oval dots that are fern spores. This effect adds to their charm. The individual fronds arise from a rhizome, that is coloured gold but covered in red hairs. It can grow as an epiphyte or grown on its own roots in the foliage of a forest. This is too tender to live out of doors in the UK.
- Flower colour
- Green
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Stem colour
- Gold, Red
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell
- Height
- 1.2m
- Spread
- 1m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Indoors, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 10C & above (RHS H1b)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- full light at all times
- Indoor temperature
- 10C minimum temperature
- Use for
- Coloured stems
- Hazards
- No
- Pet safe
- Yes – listed in our pet-safe plants
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Feed with houseplant food monthly
Give the plant a balanced houseplant feed monthly while in growth.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), with percentage values for each, choose one where the values are more or less equal.
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Water to keep the soil moist
Water moderately from the period when growth starts (around April) until the early autumn (September).
Winter
Winter-Spring · Indoors
Water lightly in winter
The soil should remain just moist during the cold months when the plant is not in growth. Trickle a little water onto the soil surface every couple of weeks if the soil is dry. Do nothing if it is moist.
The roots remain active in winter and benefit from small amounts of moisture so they don't become completely desiccated.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Loam based compost for repotting
Repot using any good quality standard compost.
Alternatively prepare a special compost that is best suited to the plant's needs: mix equal amounts of loam (John Innes no. 2 or 3), leaf mould, sand or grit and perlite.
Indoor temperature · Planting
10C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 10 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in a sunny spot, close to window
Give this plant a position where there is as much light and sunlight as possible, within 2-3 metres of a sunny or bright window (one that is south, east, or west facing).