This fern can grow in nearly full day sun but looks best in part day sun to light shade. Water regularly (~ every 1-2 weeks) during dry months. Hardy to short duration temperatures to about 23 degrees F. Nursery plants are often placed on a board with attached moss but can be grown easily in the crotch of a tree or any location where organic matter can accumulate.

Platycerium bifurcatum is native to New Guinea, and along the coasts of Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'platys' meaning "flat" and 'ceras' meaning "a horn" in reference to the shape of the fronds. The specific epithet means to fork into two branches referring to the fertile fronds. In Australia it is called Elkhorn Fern. This species was awarded the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

We have long grown and sold this attractive fern and an amazing large specimen given to us by Santa Barbara plantsman Bruce Van Dyke long hung from a branch of the large Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) behind our accounting office. 

Information displayed on this page about Platycerium bifurcatum is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.