Golden leather fern (piai raya) Acrostichum aureum
Golden leather fern (piai raya) (Acrostichum aureum) is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Pteridaceae family, native to Pantropical, including Singapore (back mangrove, brackish swamps, disturbed mangrove clearings). It grows 1.5–3 m (4.9–10 ft) tall and 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft) wide, wants full sun and high water, and is hardy to about 10 °C (50 °F). Space plants about 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart.
Plan Golden leather fern (piai raya) in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Golden leather fern (piai raya) at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Pteridaceae |
| Mature height | 1.5–3 m (4.9–10 ft) |
| Mature spread | 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft) |
| Spacing | 1.5 m (4.9 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance high |
| Soil pH | 5–8.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About 10 °C (50 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 12) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 40 °C (104 °F) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Pantropical, including Singapore (back mangrove, brackish swamps, disturbed mangrove clearings) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Is Golden leather fern (piai raya) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
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 Golden leather fern (piai raya)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and high water.
See Golden leather fern (piai raya) in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Gardens by the Bay (8 plants)
- Na ʻĀina Kai Botanical Gardens (4 plants)
Questions about Golden leather fern (piai raya)
- How far apart should I plant Golden leather fern (piai raya)?
- About 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft).
- Does Golden leather fern (piai raya) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Golden leather fern (piai raya) need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance high.
- How cold-hardy is Golden leather fern (piai raya)?
- It tolerates about 10 °C (50 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 12.
- Is Golden leather fern (piai raya) 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. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with Golden leather fern (piai raya)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Golden leather fern (piai raya). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Flora & Fauna Web, National Parks Board, Singapore
- Mangrove plants of Singapore (fact sheets; after Ng & Sivasothi, A Guide to the Mangroves of Singapore), WildSingapore
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Notes and assumptions
- Mangrove: grows in tidal, saline mud flooded by brackish water; it is a coastal habitat plant, not for ordinary garden soil.
- One of the few salt-tolerant ferns: dense clumps of stiff, leathery fronds; the top pinnae of fertile fronds turn rusty-gold with spores.
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
- Delta maidenhair fern Adiantum raddianum
- Bigleaf hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla
- Rhododendron Rhododendron
- Boxwood Buxus sempervirens
- Oleander Nerium oleander
- Common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
- Camellia Camellia japonica
- Gardenia Gardenia jasminoides