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Phlebodium aureum, or Golden Serpent Fern, is an epiphyte and also occasionally a terrestrial fern with deeply lobed fronds that range in colour from bright green to almost blue, and which can grow up to 1.3 m in length.
Latin name
Phlebodium aureum
Pronunciation
(“fleb-OH-dee-um OR-ree-um”)
Common name
Cabbage Palm Fern
Origin
Native to the Eastern half of South America, South-eastern USA and the Caribbean, although it has been introduced and naturalized in Southern Africa, India and North-eastern Australia
It produces small, smooth brown spore cases (called sori) on the undersides of the fronds, which may be mistaken for scale insects – do not try to remove them.
One of its distinguishing features is its rhizomes. These are creeping stems structures, up to 1.5cm thick (occasionally thicker) that grow along the surface of the ground or host tree, that have prominent golden scales – hence common names such as golden serpent fern and gold-foot fern.
In humid areas with plenty of rainfall, it is an evergreen, but where it grows in places with a dry season, it will become deciduous. When grown as a houseplant, it is best to keep it well watered unless you don’t mind it shedding its foliage every now and again.
Non-toxic to pets and humans, making it a safe choice for homes with cats, dogs and children.
caring for your plant
Light
Medium to high light.
Watering
Keep soil moist at all times and mist with tepid water. This plant will do well on bathroom windowsills.
Pruning
Do not prune, but remove dead fronds by cutting back to the base with a sharp knife or secateurs.
Feeding
A little dilute fertilizer should be added to the water every time you water the plant.
pest & diseases
Mealybugs or scale insects may occasionally be found. Two-spotted spider mites might also attack the plant if the atmosphere is too dry.
Our plants are grown in Ecoponic, an alternative to soil. Officially known as a vulkaponic substrate, it replaces traditional compost with a clean, mineral-based medium that helps protect peatlands.
According to the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, “A loss of only 5% of UK peatland carbon would be equal to the UK’s annual greenhouse gas emissions.” As well as storing carbon, the natural wetlands where peat is found are critical to the survival of plants and wildlife. Ecoponic also improves plant health and uses water more efficiently.
Find out more about Ecoponic here.
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