Rabbit's Foot Fern

How to care for Rabbit's Foot Fern

Light

Davallia fejeensis thrives in bright, indirect light and will tolerate moderate light levels, making it suitable for rooms with filtered sun. Direct summer sun should be avoided as it can scorch the delicate fronds and cause them to brown. An east- or north-facing windowsill, or a spot set back from a south- or west-facing window, generally suits it well.

Watering

Water moderately, allowing the top centimetre or so of compost to dry out between waterings. The rhizomes are somewhat drought-tolerant once established, but prolonged dryness will cause the fronds to yellow and drop. Reduce watering in autumn and winter when growth slows. Always use tepid, ideally soft water, as cold or hard water can cause tip browning.

Soil and potting

A free-draining, airy mix is essential. A combination of peat-free multipurpose compost with perlite and coarse bark works well, as it prevents waterlogging while retaining enough moisture. Being epiphytic by nature, this fern does not need or benefit from a heavy, nutrient-rich compost. Shallow containers or hanging baskets suit the spreading habit of the rhizomes.

Feeding

Feed monthly from spring to early autumn with a balanced, water-soluble fertiliser diluted to half the recommended strength. Over-feeding can cause fertiliser salt build-up, which may damage the roots and rhizomes. Do not feed during winter when the plant is not actively growing.

Humidity and temperature

This fern prefers humidity levels of 50 per cent or above. It will tolerate average household humidity but benefits from regular misting of the fronds, placement on a pebble tray with water, or grouping with other plants. Avoid placing it near radiators or air-conditioning vents. It prefers temperatures between 16 and 24 degrees C and should not be exposed to temperatures below 10 degrees C, as it is frost-tender.

Repotting

Repot every two to three years, or when the rhizomes have completely covered the surface of the pot and begun to tangle. Move up only one pot size, as this plant prefers slightly confined conditions. Handle the rhizomes carefully as they are brittle and easily damaged. Shallow, wide pots or hanging baskets are preferable to deep containers, allowing the rhizomes room to spread horizontally.

Pruning

Remove dead or yellowing fronds by cutting them cleanly at the base with sharp, clean scissors or secateurs. Do not cut back the furry rhizomes, as these are the plant's main growing structures and storage organs. Routine pruning is minimal; the main task is tidying away spent foliage to keep the plant looking presentable and to improve airflow.

Is Rabbit's Foot Fern toxic?

Common problems

How to propagate

Rhizome division

Cut a section of rhizome at least 5 cm long that has a growing tip and at least one frond attached. Pin the section onto the surface of a moist, free-draining compost mix and keep in a warm, humid environment. Roots and new fronds should develop within several weeks.

Spore sowing

Collect spores from the underside of mature fronds by placing the frond over white paper. Sow the spores thinly on the surface of a sterilised, fine, moist compost in a covered container placed in a warm, bright position out of direct sun. Germination and development are slow and may take several months.

Where Rabbit's Foot Fern comes from

Native to Fiji.

Story and origins

The genus name Davallia honours the Swiss botanist Edmond Davall (1763 to 1798), who worked extensively on European flora. The species epithet fejeensis is a Latinised form of Fiji, the island group from which the type specimen was originally collected and described, indicating the plant's geographical origin.

Davallia fejeensis was formally described in the nineteenth century following botanical collections made in Fiji during the era of Pacific exploration. It was introduced into European cultivation relatively quickly and became a favourite of the Victorian fern craze, often grown in parlours, wardrobes, and hanging baskets. In its native Pacific, ferns of the Davallia genus have been used in traditional weaving and decoration, with the furry rhizomes occasionally incorporated into handicrafts. The plant remains one of the most widely grown ferns in indoor horticulture globally.

Varieties to know

Davallia fejeensis 'Major'

A larger-growing form with more robust fronds and rhizomes than the species type.

Davallia fejeensis 'Plumosa'

Has finer, more finely divided fronds giving it an even lacier, more feathery appearance.

Fun facts

• The creeping rhizomes of Davallia fejeensis are technically stem structures, not roots, and can remain viable for some time even if detached from the parent plant.
• In its native habitat, Davallia fejeensis grows epiphytically on tree trunks and rocks, anchoring itself with roots that emerge from the underside of the rhizomes rather than relying on soil.
• The furry coating on the rhizomes is composed of dense scales called ramenta, which help reduce water loss and protect the tissue.
• This fern does not produce flowers or seeds; it reproduces sexually via spores produced in structures called sori, which appear as small brown dots on the undersides of mature fronds.
• Davallia fejeensis has been cultivated as a houseplant in Europe since the Victorian era, when fern growing, known as pteridomania, was enormously fashionable.

Rabbit's Foot Fern FAQ