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Crocodile Fern (Microsorum musifolium), Fern
Fern

Crocodile Fern

Microsorum musifolium

Varieties We Bring In

StandardMicrosorum musifolium
Sizes & Pricing
4 inFrom$7.95
8 inFrom$19.95

Last received Jul 16, 2026.

We bring this in seasonally, so what is on the lot changes week to week. A received date shows when it last came in, not that it is here today.

Call (904) 471-0440 to confirm this plant and size before you make the trip.

LightPart Shade, Full Shade
WaterModerate
Mature size2-3 feet × 2-3 feet

Pet toxicity: not on file, check before planting where pets chew

Pet safety guide

About Crocodile Fern

Microsorum musifolium, crocodile fern, is a tropical epiphytic fern from Southeast Asia and Australia with broad, lance-shaped fronds featuring a distinctive reptile-scale surface texture created by the raised vein network. Grown primarily as a novelty foliage plant, it is popular in humid terrariums and as a low-light indoor specimen.

Plant details

Bloom Season
Non-flowering
Flower Color
Non-flowering
Growth Rate
Moderate
Foliage
Evergreen
Soil
Loam, Acidic, Well-drained, Humus-rich

Best planting months

Recommended months: March, April, May, September, October.

January, other month
February, other month
March, good window
April, good window
May, good window
June, other month
July, other month
August, other month
September, good window
October, good window
November, other month, this month
December, other month
This monthGood windowOther months

Seasonal care

Good planting window.

Care essentials

Light

Grow Crocodile Fern in bright indirect light or partial to full shade; avoid direct sun, which scorches the fronds. In NE Florida, a shaded patio, north-facing exposure, or bright indoor spot with filtered light is ideal.

Water

Keep the root zone consistently moist but never waterlogged — this epiphytic fern needs humidity above all else. In NE Florida's warm seasons, check soil moisture every few days and mist foliage regularly; reduce watering slightly in cooler months.

Soil & Fertilizer

Plant in a chunky, humus-rich, well-draining epiphyte mix (orchid bark, perlite, coco coir) rather than dense garden soil. Feed monthly during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength; do not over-fertilize.

Similar needs

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Common questions

Is Crocodile Fern a good plant for St. Augustine?

Crocodile Fern is a fern. Mature size: 2-3 feet × 2-3 feet. Light: Part Shade, Full Shade. Water needs: Moderate.

Care information verified from

Last reviewed March 2026. Our care guidance comes from trusted horticulture sources and decades of helping St. Augustine gardeners. Conditions here can vary dramatically from one area to the next, so come ask us and we'll tailor it to your yard.