Plant in shade or part sun (will take coastal full sun with regular watering) and tolerate drier, poorer soil than most ferns. Hardy to 20°F but rebounds from the ground after a frost so useful in USDA zones 8b-10b. A fern long-cultivated in California that is useful in gardens for its toughness and ability to survive in relatively dry conditions. It is impressive as a tall groundcover for woodland areas and useful as an accent plant or in hanging baskets and containers.

Nephrolepis cordifolia is native to northeastern Australia north into Asia where it is found growing in swamps, low lying wet areas and sometime as an epiphyte, but it is well established throughout the world in the tropics and subtropics. The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'nephros' meaning "a kidney" and 'lepis' meaning a 'scale' for the shape of the specific epithet means "heart-shaped leaves". It is related and similar looking to the so-called Boston Fern, Nephrolepis exaltata, that is widely used as an indoor plant. We also have grown the dwarf form with light green rounded leaves that is called Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Lemon Buttons'. 

The information displayed on this page about Nephrolepis cordifolia is based on the research we have conducted about it in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about this plant as it grows in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant have performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we have received from others and welcome hearing from anyone with information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information that will aid others to better grow it.