Medium Birds Nest Fern

The Birds Nest Fern or Asplenium nidus is a gorgeous houseplant whose leaves splash outward like a waterspout. Native to southeastern Asia, eastern Australia, Hawaii, Polynesia, Christmas Island, India, and eastern Africa, the medium Birds Nest Fern we have in our greenhouse (Nationwide shipping options! People love the quality of plants they receive from us, especially with the protective packaging available.) has deep roots from all over the tropics. At this stage, the fern is about one and a half feet tall and wide, regardless, each Birds Nest Fern will grow slightly different.

Birds Nest Fern Benefits

This plant is a real gas guzzler, but not the kind you’re thinking of. The Birds Nest Fern is pretty sensational at removing harmful gases (formaldehyde and nicotine to name a few) from the surrounding environment, purifying the air, and boosting flow. The Birds Nest Fern is also great at improving the temperature of the room it’s in. Data suggests that the Asplenium can increase humidity up to 10% and reduce indoor temperature as well. This is great if you have the fern in a room with other plants that require high humidity.

A Fountain of Color

The Asplenium nidus looks like a tropical water fountain, spewing forest and lime greens upwards and outwards through its fronds. The leaves are so glossy, flowy, and wavy that they look like water.

It’s Crimped

Remember in the 90s when women would crimp their hair? The Birds Nest Fern is packed with crimped looking leaves that look like you used a heated tool to do it. They crinkle like paper and curl inward in a manner known as circinate vernation. More specifically, this refers to when the fern emerges curled so that the tip is better protected.  

To the North!

To simulate their lush habitats, it could be helpful to place your new fern on a north-facing wall that’s in a more humid room. Buy a humidifier if the room isn’t steamy enough. These plants grow next to palm trees and other rainforest canopies that block a lot of the bright light that shines through, so make sure that the room has a lot of bright, but indirect light to avoid leaf burn.