Bird's nest fern Asplenium nidus
Bird's nest fern (Asplenium nidus) is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Aspleniaceae family, native to Old World tropics from East Africa to Polynesia, including Singapore (epiphyte on large trees). It grows 60 cm–1.5 m (24 in–4.9 ft) tall and 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) wide, wants shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about 7 °C (45 °F). Space plants about 1.2 m (3.9 ft) apart.
Plan Bird's nest fern in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Bird's nest fern at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Aspleniaceae |
| Mature height | 60 cm–1.5 m (24 in–4.9 ft) |
| Mature spread | 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) |
| Spacing | 1.2 m (3.9 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Shade, at least 1 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About 7 °C (45 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 11) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 35 °C (95 °F) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Old World tropics from East Africa to Polynesia, including Singapore (epiphyte on large trees) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇦🇺 Australia |
Is Bird's nest fern toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA).
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Bird's nest fern
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like shade and moderate water.
See Bird's nest fern in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- The Huntington (4 plants)
- UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley (3 plants)
- Singapore Botanic Gardens (6 plants)
- Gardens by the Bay (6 plants)
- China National Botanical Garden (4 plants)
- Fairy Lake Botanical Garden (8 plants)
- Missouri Botanical Garden (6 plants)
- Monet’s gardens at Giverny (3 plants)
- Na ʻĀina Kai Botanical Gardens (8 plants)
- New York Botanical Garden (4 plants)
- Jardin botanique de Montréal (3 plants)
Questions about Bird's nest fern
- How far apart should I plant Bird's nest fern?
- About 1.2 m (3.9 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft).
- Does Bird's nest fern need full sun?
- Shade: at least 1 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Bird's nest fern need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Bird's nest fern?
- It tolerates about 7 °C (45 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 11.
- Is Bird's nest fern poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA).
- What grows well with Bird's nest fern?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Bird's nest fern. Group it with plants that like the same sun (shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Flora & Fauna Web, National Parks Board, Singapore
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical lowland plant: outdoors only where it never frosts (as in Singapore); elsewhere it needs a heated glasshouse.
- Epiphyte: grows on branches in nature; in a garden it is tied onto trees, tree-fern trunks or rock, or grown in very open bark mix.
- Undivided, glossy fronds with a black midrib form a funnel that traps falling leaves and rain.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Bigleaf hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla
- Rhododendron Rhododendron
- Boxwood Buxus sempervirens
- Oleander Nerium oleander
- Common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
- Camellia Camellia japonica
- Gardenia Gardenia jasminoides
- Common lilac Syringa vulgaris