The Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) is one of the best known indoor ferns, grown for its lush, arching green fronds that bring a soft, tropical feel to any room.
Its fronds cascade gracefully from the crown, making it equally at home on a shelf, a plant stand or hung as a trailing houseplant. It is evergreen indoors all year round and never flowers, since it is grown purely for its foliage.
It arrives as an established plant in a 1 litre pot, ready for a bright bathroom, living room or office. Give it bright, indirect light; it will tolerate a shadier spot but grows best out of direct sun and cold draughts, and is happiest in a warm room between 15 and 24°C.
Keep the compost evenly moist rather than wet or dry, and mist the fronds or stand the pot on a humidity tray, since this fern prefers higher humidity than most rooms naturally provide. Feed during the growing season and repot once roots fill the current pot.
Cultural Information
- Common Name: Boston Fern, Sword Fern
- Fully Grown Height and Spread: Approx. 60-90cm tall and 60-90cm wide (conditions dependent)
- Growth Habit: Arching, trailing fronds
- Perfect For: Bathrooms, living rooms, bedrooms, offices, hanging planters
- Foliage: Lush green, pinnate, evergreen fronds
- Flowering Time: Non-flowering, grown for its foliage
- Planting Position: Bright, indirect light; tolerates medium and lower light
- Hardiness: Tender indoor plant only, needs a minimum of around 10°C and must not be grown outdoors
- Maintenance: Keep compost evenly moist, mist regularly or use a humidity tray, avoid cold draughts and direct sun
- Seasonal Interest: Evergreen foliage interest all year
- Type: Evergreen tropical fern (houseplant)