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Platycerium bifurcatum & hillii
Platycerium bifurcatum and P. hillii from eastern Australia are the easiest staghorn ferns to grow: forgiving and quick to produce pups, and P. bifurcatum tolerates cooler nights. They suit new growers, retail and landscape use.
Platycerium bifurcatum
Platycerium bifurcatum is the classic staghorn fern and the easiest to grow. Its forked, arching fertile fronds and quick production of pups make it the usual first staghorn for new growers — and the parent of many hybrids.
- Native to
- Eastern Australia (Queensland and New South Wales), Lord Howe Island, New Guinea and Java
In our wholesale catalogue now: P. bifurcatum sp. White · P. bifurcatum 'Popcorn' · P. (veitchii × bifurcatum) 'White & Shine' · P. 'Mt. Lewis' × bifurcatum
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Platycerium hillii
Platycerium hillii from northern Queensland has upright, dark-green and broad fertile fronds with shallow forks. It is easy to grow and a parent of several popular hybrids.
- Native to
- North-east Queensland, Australia
In our wholesale catalogue now: P. hillii 'Moose' · P. hillii 'Raijin' · P. 'Mt. Lewis' × hillii 'Trident' · P. (hillii × coronarium) 'Flamenco' · P. (hillii × willinckii) 'Salmon' · P. hillii × sib
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Platycerium bifurcatum sp. White
Platycerium bifurcatum sp. White is a pale form of P. bifurcatum, named for its whitish fronds, with the easy-going nature of the species.
- Parent
- P. bifurcatum
- Parent native to
- Eastern Australia (Queensland and New South Wales), Lord Howe Island, New Guinea and Java
In our wholesale catalogue now: P. bifurcatum sp. White · P. bifurcatum 'Popcorn' · P. (veitchii × bifurcatum) 'White & Shine' · P. 'Mt. Lewis' × bifurcatum
See live plants, sizes & prices →How to grow P. bifurcatum and P. hillii
These are the easiest staghorn ferns to grow. P. bifurcatum tolerates cooler nights, bright shade and the occasional missed watering. P. hillii is just as forgiving but less tolerant of cold. Even so, keep them above 10 °C to be safe.
Give them bright, diffused light and moderate watering: water when the moss surface is dry and the plant feels light.
Both produce pups readily, depending on conditions. Divide a pup once its own shield frond is about 5–7 cm across. See staghorn fern pups and dividing.
The Textbook's spore timeline is P. bifurcatum's: spores germinate in about 1–4 weeks, and the first true fronds appear after roughly 6–10 months. See growing staghorn ferns from spores.
Like all staghorn ferns they are epiphytes: grow them mounted on a board or in a basket, never in soil. Light, temperature, humidity and watering at a glance: staghorn fern care quick reference. Full care notes: The Platycerium Textbook.
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