pikopiko

Asplenium bulbiferum | pikopiko, hen and chicken fern, mother spleenwort

 

A popular fern valued for its lush, arching fronds and distinctive ability to produce small plantlets along the leaf edges. These “baby ferns” give the plant its common name and allow it to spread naturally. The bright green, finely divided foliage creates a soft, textured effect that adds depth and a subtropical feel to shaded spaces. This fern thrives in moist, well-drained soil in dappled to full shade and benefits from a sheltered position away from direct sun and strong winds. It is well suited to native gardens, fern collections, shaded courtyards, underplanting, and containers, and can also be grown successfully indoors. Low maintenance once established, it should be planted approximately 50 to 70 cm apart to allow fronds to spread. At maturity, it forms a dense clump around 1 m tall and 1 m wide.