The Staghorn Fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) is a wonderfully architectural plant, named for its forked, antler-shaped green fronds that arch and eventually trail as they lengthen. Also known as the Elkhorn Fern, it is an epiphyte native to Australia, Southeast Asia and New Guinea, where it grows perched on trees rather than in the ground. A living sculpture with real presence, its fronds are dusted with a fine, silvery fuzz, and a brown, fuzzy bloom of spores on mature leaves is a healthy, natural part of its life cycle.

It makes a striking specimen on a shelf or, once the fronds lengthen, as a hanging plant. One to display where its unusual, prehistoric shape can be admired.

Care at a glance

Light: Bright, indirect light. Give it the brightest spot you have, but out of direct sun, which scorches the fronds.

Water: Best watered from below. Let the top of the soil begin to dry, then soak the root ball for 10 to 15 minutes and let it drain fully. Water less in winter and never leave it standing in water.

Humidity: Loves higher humidity, so a bright bathroom or kitchen suits it well. Mist for best results.

Temperature: Happy in normal room temperatures of 16 to 24°C, kept above 12°C and away from cold draughts.

Pet note: Considered non-toxic, so a good choice for homes with pets and children.

Supplied in a 17cm nursery pot. As a living plant, size and form vary from one to the next, so yours will be one of a kind.