Mother Fern
Asplenium bulbiferum
Also listed as Asplenium ramosum, Caenopteris bulbifera
Also known as Hen and Chicks Fern, Hen and Chicken Fern, Hen and Chickens Fern
Climate Match for your location
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An attractive evergreen fern with delicate, feathery fronds that produces small bulbils (baby plantlets) along the leaf surfaces. These plantlets eventually drop and can be propagated to create new plants, earning it the common name Mother Fern.
Why grow it
Mother Fern offers reliable foliar propagation, making it useful for gardeners seeking an accessible way to generate new plants without division or spores. Compared to most ferns, its self-producing bulbils eliminate the need for specialized propagation techniques, though growth rate and plantlet viability are moderate rather than exceptional. It performs well as a houseplant or in sheltered outdoor locations in mild climates, suitable for those wanting an evergreen fern with ornamental value and reproductive utility in one specimen.
Watch out for
This fern prefers consistent moisture and indirect light; it declines noticeably in dry air or direct sun, which may limit placement options indoors. The bulbils, while convenient for propagation, can sometimes drop and self-sow in unwanted areas of a growing space, requiring occasional cleanup.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Aspleniaceae
Native Range
New Zealand
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
pH Range
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
An attractive evergreen fern with delicate, feathery fronds that produces small bulbils (baby plantlets) along the leaf surfaces. These plantlets eventually drop and can be propagated to create new plants, earning it the common name Mother Fern.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Mother Fern grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Mother Fern offers reliable foliar propagation, making it useful for gardeners seeking an accessible way to generate new plants without division or spores. Compared to most ferns, its self-producing bulbils eliminate the need for specialized propagation techniques, though growth rate and plantlet viability are moderate rather than exceptional. It performs well as a houseplant or in sheltered outdoor locations in mild climates, suitable for those wanting an evergreen fern with ornamental value and reproductive utility in one specimen.
Watch out for
This fern prefers consistent moisture and indirect light; it declines noticeably in dry air or direct sun, which may limit placement options indoors. The bulbils, while convenient for propagation, can sometimes drop and self-sow in unwanted areas of a growing space, requiring occasional cleanup.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Aspleniaceae
Native Range
New Zealand
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
pH Range
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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