Herself's Houseplants

Killing plants so you don't have to

Holly fern ( Cyrtomium falcatum )

Holly fern

holly fern

So you want to grow ferns in your home but it’s just too dry. This is the fern for you.

Japanese holly fern tolerates dry air much better than traditional ferns. It prefers moist soil but unlike other ferns it will forgive you occasionally forgetting to water it.

It will live in dark corners of your home but will grow and thrive with some light. Keep it from direct afternoon sun however.

It also grows slower than most ferns so choose one close to the size you want it to be. It will max out at about a foot high and 3′ across. Divide and repot if it gets too large.

Leaves are thick with serrated, sharp edges. Spores form in small circular patches underneath fronds.