The Blue Star Fern | Phlebodium aureum | 70mm Nursery Pot

Product Description

A little fern with a whole lot of character! The Blue Star Fern is a refreshing change from your traditional leafy greens, bringing beautiful blue-green foliage and a wonderfully relaxed, tropical feel to your indoor spaces.

With its elongated, gently wavy fronds and distinctive silvery-blue colouring, Phlebodium aureum has a soft, almost sculptural appearance. Young fronds can emerge in brighter shades of green before gradually developing their signature blue-green tones, while the foliage becomes increasingly interesting as the plant matures.

Perfect for brightening shelves, desks, bathrooms and cosy corners, this little fern is a fantastic starting point for growing your own lush indoor display. Unlike some of its fussier fern relatives, the Blue Star Fern is relatively forgiving once you find the right watering balance, making it a lovely addition to both established collections and beginner plant families.

Why You'll Love It

• Beautiful blue-green foliage adds a refreshing splash of colour to indoor spaces.

• Gently wavy fronds create a soft, sculptural appearance.

• New growth brings fresh green tones that develop as the foliage matures.

• A relatively forgiving fern that's suitable for a range of indoor environments.

• Compact young size makes it perfect for shelves, desks and smaller spaces.

The Details

• Botanical Name: Phlebodium aureum
• Common Name: Blue Star Fern
• Pot Size: 70mm Nursery Pot
• Plant Type: Tropical evergreen epiphytic fern

Light

Prefers bright, indirect light, although it can also adapt to moderate indirect light conditions. A position near a window with filtered sunlight is ideal, allowing the foliage to develop its distinctive blue-green colouring without exposure to harsh direct sun.

Gentle morning sunlight may be tolerated, but avoid strong afternoon sun, which can scorch the delicate fronds. In lower light conditions, growth may slow and the plant may require less frequent watering.

Watering

Blue Star Fern enjoys consistent moisture but doesn't appreciate sitting in soggy potting mix. Allow the upper layer of the mix to begin drying slightly between waterings, then water thoroughly and let any excess drain away.

Unlike many traditional ferns, it can tolerate brief periods of mild dryness, although repeatedly allowing the entire root ball to dry out may result in crispy frond edges or slowed growth.

Because this plant is growing in a small 70mm nursery pot, check moisture levels regularly, particularly during warmer weather. Aim for a lightly moist, well-aerated growing environment rather than constantly saturated soil.

Feeding

Feed year-round with a diluted, balanced liquid fertiliser to support healthy frond development and steady growth.

Ferns generally prefer gentle feeding, so use a weaker solution rather than applying fertiliser at full strength. Adjust the frequency according to the plant's growth rate, feeding less often during cooler periods when growth naturally slows.

Growing

Blue Star Fern grows from creeping rhizomes that gradually spread across the surface of the potting mix, producing attractive fronds that arch outward as the plant matures.

As an epiphytic fern, it naturally grows in environments where its roots receive plenty of airflow. A loose, well-draining potting mix containing ingredients such as orchid bark and other moisture-retentive but airy materials is ideal.

It appreciates moderate to higher humidity but is often more adaptable to average household conditions than many other tropical ferns. Bathrooms with natural light can be a particularly good location, although a bright living room or bedroom can work just as well.

Keep the plant away from cold draughts, heaters and drying air-conditioning vents. As it grows, its fronds may develop more pronounced lobes, giving the foliage an increasingly distinctive appearance.

Pet Friendly?

Yes! Blue Star Fern (Phlebodium aureum) is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, making it a lovely choice for pet-friendly indoor plant collections.

Although it isn't considered poisonous, it's still best to discourage pets from chewing the foliage, as eating large amounts of any plant material can potentially cause mild digestive upset.

Good to Know

One of the most interesting features of the Blue Star Fern is how its foliage changes as it matures. Young plants often produce relatively simple, elongated fronds, while older growth may become more deeply lobed and develop the distinctive shape associated with mature specimens.

You may also notice fuzzy, golden-brown rhizomes appearing around the base of the plant as it grows. These are a natural part of the fern's growth and should remain near the surface rather than being buried deeply when repotting.

The characteristic blue-green colouring can vary depending on the age of the fronds and the growing conditions, giving each plant its own unique appearance.

• We photograph as many of our plants as possible; however, some listings may occasionally use supplier images.

• As plants are living things, every plant is unique and natural variations in size, colour and fullness should be expected.

• The plant you receive may not be the exact one pictured, but we'll always hand-pick a beautiful, healthy plant we'd happily display in our own home.

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