It is not actually from Boston. The first Boston fern, Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’ was merely discovered in Boston, as a mutant in a shipment of otherwise normal ferns. Unlike the more upright parent plants, Boston fern has softly arching fronds that can hang vertically at the ends.
The fronds are typically about a foot and a half long, and can be a few feet long in humid and partly shady environments. Each frond is comprised of many pinnae that are neatly arranged on both sides of a wiry rachis (leaf stalk). Each leaflet is an inch or two long or longer. Delicate aerial roots sometimes dangle below the foliage.
Through the 1970’s, Boston fern was one of the most popular houseplants. Yet, it really prefers more humidity than it gets inside. It is actually happier on porches or in atriums where it is sheltered from frost and harsh sun exposure. It prefers partial shade outside, but likes abundant ambient sunlight as a houseplant.
I marvel at these ferns often spotted on porches here in the south. They seem to add a friendly splash of green and make for a cooling visual in the heat and humidity that summer brings. Personally, I have never had luck keeping them alive. I will probably have to enjoy them on other’s porches! Ha ha!
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They are happier in humid climates than in arid climate. They are even happier farther south, where winters are not so cold.
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These are native in my area and came up from some well placed spores…
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Boston fern is actually a cultivar of the wild species. There is a species of Nephrolepis that is naturalized in the Los Angeles region that I had always considered to be Nephrolepis corifolia, but might actually be Nephrolepis exalta, like what grows wild in Florida. It is impossible to eradicate from infested canopies of Canary Island date palms.
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Yes I like the fern in Palm look..
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Ew! They probably do not look bad there. In Los Angeles, it gets shabby halfway through summer.
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I imagine they get pretty crispy in summer. I just started planting the boots of a Sabal Palm here..Bromeliads and Orchids if some fern comes along I will add it.
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Will fern migrate into the canopies and get overgrown?
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Doesn’t seem to – Asian Sword fern probably would. Trying to corral that stuff.
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Oh, I see it is Nephrolepis brownii. so might behave there like Nephrolepis cordifolia behaves here. I actually do not know for certain if what I believe to be Nephrolepis cordifolia up in palms really is what I believe it to be. I can not get very close to it.
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Yes brownii..vile stuff.
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Even the name sounds unappealing.
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I remember Boston fern as if it were yesterday, I used to have it in every room of the house.
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Did they hang in macrame?
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