Botanical Name
Platycerium bifurcatum
Common Name
Elkhorn Fern
Description
Elkhorn Fern is a distinctive epiphytic native fern renowned for its unique nest leaves and bifurcating fertile fronds that creates fascinating displays in Australian gardens. This remarkable species grows as masses of plantlets, each consisting of sterile nest leaves 12-30cm wide that lie against host surfaces and become brown and papery with age, overlapping with neighboring plantlets. The fertile fronds protrude 25-90cm long from each plantlet, dividing into two segments multiple times along their length, with tan-brown velvet-textured spore-producing areas on the undersurface of end segments. Requiring consistent moisture and shade, it thrives in humid, shaded positions with good air circulation when mounted or attached to suitable surfaces. Perfect for shaded epiphytic displays, tree mounting, and areas where unique native ferns with distinctive growth habits create memorable architectural features.
Plant Category
Ferns
Size (H x W)
Height: 25-90cm (fertile fronds), Spread: Variable (colony forming)
Platycerium bifurcatum naturally occurs as an epiphyte growing on trunks and branches of trees in Australian forests, thriving in shaded, humid conditions with consistent moisture and good air circulation in temperate to subtropical climates.
Cultural SIgnificance
As part of Australia’s ancient epiphytic flora, this species represents the prehistoric fern communities that were traditionally valued by Aboriginal peoples for their role in forest ecosystems and as indicators of healthy, mature forest environments.
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