I'm not much into ferns really, but I love Bird Nest ferns (various Asplenium varieties). Anyone have any nice ones? Here are a few of mine:

Had this one for about 5 or 6 years now. I believe it is A. antiquum. Fronds are about 3 feet in length each.


Here is A. antiquum 'Victoria'. I recently repotted it. I almost lost it because it got stuck behind some larger plants and then fell over on its side. It's regrowing nicely, tho and is starting the regain some symmetry. You can still see some of the wonky fronds lower down.


This is regular ol' Asplenium nidus. It was in bad need of a repotting, but it always kinda sulks in the heat of the summer. Now that we're getting down to just warm temps, it's coming back some, too. Just to give an idea of scale, its in a 12 inch clay azalea pot. It's about 3 or 4 years old.


This is a favorite of mine. It's a variegated Asplenium hybrid. 12 inch pot, fronds are between about 18-24 inches in length.


Another variegated one. This one is much smaller, though I've had it a year longer than the previous variegated one. It just seems to be a little more finicky. It's in a 4 inch pot. It also is dveloping some forked fronds.


Last two are 'Chrissy' (first pic) & 'Leslie' (second pic). Both are new acquisitions. Neither are anything uncommon or unsusual, I just bought them because I like Aspleniums.

Wow, really, really nice!! I think I still have a couple of Asplenium hiding out in the weeds at the perimeter of our yard somewhere; I'll have to go look for them tomorrow and see if I can bring them back to some semblance of glory.

Love, Love, Love those variegated ferns ... didn't even know there was a variegated Asplenium!

Carter, you should add some of your great photos to the database!
Birds Nest Fern (Asplenium antiquum)
Birds Nest Fern (Asplenium antiquum 'Victoria')
Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)
Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium antiquum 'Crissie')

plantladylin said:Carter, you should add some of your great photos to the database!
Birds Nest Fern (Asplenium antiquum)
Birds Nest Fern (Asplenium antiquum 'Victoria')
Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)
Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium antiquum 'Crissie')

Done!

I've had the Crissie for a few yrs. I've almost killed it twice while inside for winter by letting it get too dry. It loves being outside for summer.

Aren't A. nidus & A. antiquum synonyms?

The could be synonyms. I haven't really read up on their nomenclature. I'll have to do that!

I love these plants, but they don't love being in my house. Beautiful plants, @Carter!

Thanks, Laurie! I grow mine outdoors most of the year and stick them in the greenhouse for the winter.

I am interested in growing a Bird's Nest Fern as a epiphytic in my tree with my other epiphytic plants. I have no idea how to get it attached to the tree. Would I attach it as I did the Staghorn Fern with a little sphagnum moss and tie to the tree until established?

Scot, that sure sounds like a good plan; if it's not somehow tied to a branch, wind would blow it out for sure. Keep us posted on the outcome!

Not sure, Scott. I know they can grow as epiphytes, but I'm not positive how they attach naturally - I would think similarly to Staghorn Ferns, but don't know for sure. I recall a local nursery owner had a beautiful one he had mounted, and it looked like he'd done it exactly like that.

I will say I would not try it with one of the "regular" A. nidus varieties (like my 3rd pic). Those tend to grow more of a trunk - like that small tree fern - while the A. antiquum varieties keep more of a thicker/squatty base. A. nidus could probably get somewhat unstable and top heavy after a few years. You see how mine is growing over at an angle even in its pot.

I love my Bird Nest 'Chrissy'! It's so fun to watch new leaves uncurl. (:

I went out in the yard and looked for my Birdsnest Ferns this afternoon. I've had these three for quite a few years; they've all been on the brink of death a few times. When we moved a little over a year ago they got stuck in a spot on the side of the house where they didn't get watered and they just about died back to nothing. When I found them a few months ago, I moved them to a bright shady area beneath some oak trees where the irrigation system reaches. They've all grown back and look pretty good! The smallest one does appear to have some leaf damage/holes in the leaves and I'm not sure what caused it but I'm going to inspect it more closely tomorrow. I was thinking about mounting the smallest one in an oak trees to see how it would do growing epiphytically but we have so many squirrels that I know it would be torn to shreds by those critters.

Asplenium nidus:


Asplenium antiquum:


Asplenium nidus:


I'm thinking about mounting the smallest one in an oak tree to see how it does growing epiphytically.

Nice plants, Carter! I have one, I think it might be nidus, I'll have to look. I love your variegated one!

plantladylin said:I'm thinking about mounting the smallest one in an oak tree to see how it does growing epiphytically.

I've seen them grown epiphytically and they look amazing! I've never done it just because I'm not sure I could keep it watered enough come midsummer when we are consistently in the upper 90's/low 100's F. I already have trouble keeping pots watered even in the shade! Just make sure whichever one you mount that it grows more of a wider base. My wide leaf version of A. nidus grows on more of a stalk-like trunk, while all of my others tend to stay more squat-like in growth. These would lend themselves more to epiphytical type growing than the taller A. nidus which would get somewhat unwieldy after it got a little trunk on it. You can see how tall mine has gotten in the pic, and I just had to pot it up because it was getting a little top heavy in its 10 inch azalea pot!

I love these plants. I could buy one every year here in my Washington state climate, and I am tempted, but I don't love watching them have to decline in Winter indoors in a warm house. So I talk myself out of them every year. It's fun to see all of yours. Beautiful

I saw one at the San Diego Botanical Gardens last weekend, growing on top of a large large lava rock, much like an epiphyte. They put the front of the plant facing inward toward the shade, with the roots facing the brightest light the plant got. They reminded me of Staghorns. Really neat. They are just laid on the rock, with dirt and leaves piled on the roots.

You guys should all try this and compare notes. It would be fun, at least I would love following their progress;