This fern came to us under the old genus name, Polypodium aureum, but we recognize this as a fern that has been re-classified into the genus Phlebodium. It arrived with the cultivar name ‘Blue Star’, but we have yet to note any appreciable difference between the cultivar and the original species, Phlebodium aureum, which we have grown for years and suspect the name was just added for marketing purposes. The common name “Kangaroo Foot Fern” comes from the conspicuous creeping rhizome of this fern, which tends to be a light greenish cream color with a slight covering of golden papery brown scales. Phlebodiums are known for their broad, blue-green tinged fronds that have long, undivided pinnae fused to the rachis. Despite their size, up to 2 or 3 feet, the fronds are held quite upright, sprouting from various points along the rhizome rather than from a centralized crown. The blue-green color and matte sheen and sheer size of the fronds is indisputably impressive. Because they are able to store water and energy in their thick rhizomes, Phlebodiums are less fussy about watering requirements than many other houseplants and prefer to be kept lightly moist to dryish but not too wet or they may experience rhizome rot. While they do enjoy Part Sun to Part Shade or even Full Shade, the broad fronds may be easily burned in too much direct sun and may be less vigorous in Full Shade, so we recommend Part Shade. We have several stock plants that have proven very tough in under minimally heated conditions as long as they are kept somewhat dry in the winter and they make an easy, low maintenance houseplant.

Frond Condition: Evergreen as a houseplant or in sub-tropical or tropical conditions. Semi-evergreen in colder or marginal climates.

Mature Size: 2-3’

Origin: Sub-tropical and Tropical SE Asia and the Pacific

Requirements: Part Sun, Part Shade or Full Shade, Lightly Moist to Dryish