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Tropicals > Platycerium > Platycerium bifurcatum > Platycerium bifurcatum

Platycerium bifurcatum


Elkhorn Fern




Origin:  New Guinea, coastal Queensland and New South Wales, Australia.
Family
Polypodiaceae
Genus
Platycerium
Species
bifurcatum
Category
Tropicals
Type
Ferns
USDA Hardiness Zone
9 - 12
Canadian Hardiness Zone
Requires cool season protection under glass.
RHS Hardiness Zone
H1a - H3
Temperature (°C)
1
Temperature (°F)
25
Height
0.9 - 1.2 m
Spread
0.9 - 1.2 m
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
General Description
An epiphyte native to coastal Australia and New Guinea, latching onto many different species of trees in the area.
Landscape
Can be trained to latch onto mature trees that can support it. Grow indoors in pots or containers in colder climates.
Cultivation
Plant in partial shade in wet to moist soils.
Shape
Mounding.
Growth
Fast
Pests
Scale.
Habitat
Humid, wet coastal forests.
Leaf Description
Pronounced fertile fronds that are reminiscent of Elk's Horns. Fertile fronds are smaller and much less showy than the sterile larger fronds. Fertile fronds and small, simple-pinnate and are covered in a very loose fuzz.
Colour Description
rich green to grey-green sterile fronds. Darker green fertile fronds covered in a copper-brown fuzz. Woody-brown root.
Texture Description
Smooth.
Notable Specimens
Kings Park and Botanical Garden, Perth, Australia.
Propagation
By offsets of plantlets or spores.
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