Look down as you walk into the Orchid Arbour in our latest Leaf display, Nature's Apothecary, and you'll discover a peculiar-looking fern. Don't worry – there's no creature popping out of it, but it certainly looks like one!
Discover more about the White Rabbit's Foot Fern (Davallia humata tyermannii), on display now at The Leaf!
Basics: Davallia humata tyermannii is an evergreen perennial fern with large, deeply divided green fronds. Given five to ten years, it will grow 30–45 centimetres tall and 30–60 centimetres wide, making it a popular houseplant. Its rhizomes are soft, furry, and silvery-white, creeping over the edges of its container, resembling a rabbit's foot, which gives the plant its name.
Habitat: The White Rabbit’s Foot Fern is natively found in China and parts of Southeast Asia.
Growin' On Up: Davallia humata tyermannii is an epiphytic plant, which means that in nature, it grows high on a tree or on rocks as it doesn't need to be in the ground to live. Rather than getting its nutrients from its host (like a tree or ground that it's attached to), it uses the soft hairs on their rhizomes to capture moisture and organic matter!
Houseplant Tips: Due to their manageable size, low maintenance, and striking appearance, they make for a great houseplant and conversation starter!
- For the rhizomes to shine, hang or display this plant elevated so they can drape over the sides of the pot.
- While they can be susceptible to insects, they are generally disease-free.
- They prefer bright, indirect light. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight, which can scorch the fronds.
- As for watering, they tolerate occasional drying out but try to maintain consistent moisture. Don’t let them dry out completely for extended periods.
