#king fern

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 10 June 2026

The new fronds of the deciduous fern Osmunda regalis (royal fern, blooming fern, buckhorn brake, flowering fern, ditch fern, king fern, osmund the waterman) were unfurling along with the growth of the spore-bearing pinnae. This large clump forming fern needs moisture all summer, cool conditions and plenty of humus.

Jill Raggett

[letsgetsub-tropical]

ANGIOPTERIS evecta

King Fern

Size: frond stems 6 m

The King Fern is a primitive hardy fern that is grown for its large fronds and upright habit. It is planted in large gardens or parks in the understory along water courses or used in damp gullies for a tropical effect. It is also used in subtropical or tropical settings and in cold climates it is grown under glass as a specimen in tubs or planter boxes where it needs to be kept moist to avoid wilting.  It prefers a well drained but reliably moist organic rich sandy-alluvial to clay loam that is tending acidic with a pH range from 6.0 to 7.0. It grows in a wind protected semi-shaded to a sunny humid position and is frost and drought tender.

[collectiveofanimals]

King Fern

Angiopteris evecta

Angiopteris translates into box (or vessel) fern, while evecta means caried out (probably in reference to the spores)

Family: Marattiaceae

Fun Fact: "The starchy rhizomes are edible after long processing to remove toxins." (Source)

"It is also used to flavour rice and to produce an intoxicating alcoholic drink." (Source)

Habitat: They are endemic to rainforests of northern Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia, and south Pacific Islands.

[collectiveofanimals]

untitled by paletendril on Flickr.

[collectiveofanimals]

Angiopteris evecta (G. Forst.) Hoffm. by Ahmad Fuad Morad on Flickr.