Nephrolepis exaltata
Common name: Boston fern · Sword fern
Nephrolepis exaltata is a tropical fern with long, gracefully arching fronds made up of many small leaflets. Native to humid forests of the Americas, it thrives in indirect light and high humidity. The cultivar 'Bostoniensis', the classic Boston fern, became one of the most popular houseplants of the Victorian era.
Care summary
Sun
Indirect light to partial shade
Water
Keep consistently moist; high humidity
Soil
Rich, well-draining, slightly acidic
Hardiness
Zones 9–11
Mature height
0.5–1 m (1.5–3 ft) fronds
Pet safe
Yes — non-toxic to cats and dogs
Difficulty
Moderate
Propagation
Propagate by division in spring: remove the plant from its pot, tease the root mass into sections each with several fronds and healthy roots, and pot each section separately. Plantlets formed at the tips of its wiry runners can also be pinned into moist compost and detached once rooted.
Fun facts
- The Boston fern cultivar was discovered in 1894 among a shipment of sword ferns sent to Boston — hence the name.
- Like all ferns, it reproduces by spores produced in rows on the undersides of its fronds.
- Boston ferns were a fixture of Victorian parlors and remain classic hanging-basket plants.
- Dropping leaflets are usually a cry for more humidity or water, making it a good indoor humidity indicator.