Asplenium australasicum (Bird's Nest Fern, Crow's Nest Fern, Nest Fern)
Botanical Information
| Family | Aspleniaceae |
| Genus | Asplenium |
| Species | australasicum |
| Synonyms | Asplenium nidus |
| Category | Perennials |
| Type | Ferns |
| References | Ohlsen DJ, Perrie LR, Shepherd LD, Brownsey PJ, Bayly MJ (2015). "Phylogeny of the fern family Aspleniaceae in Australasia and the south-western Pacific". Australian Systematic Botany. |
| Origin | Queensland to southern New South Wales, as well as New Guineae, the Pacific Island, and Asia. First described by the English botanist John Smith in 1857. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses Disclaimer | Young fronds when cooked are eatable and are gaining a reputation as a delicacy. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Height | 0.5 - 1.5 m |
| Spread | 1 - 3 m |
Description and Growing Information
| Shape | Large and nest-shapped. |
| Landscape | Container planting. |
| Propagation | Propagation from spores. |
| Cultivation | Partial-shade. Moist, well-drained soil with acidic and neutral pH. Loamy, sandy loam and clay loam. Tolerates moderate frost. |
| Pests | Vulnerable to rotting. |
| Notable Specimens | Kings Park and Botanical Garden, Perth, Australia. |
| Habitat | Rainforests. |
| Leaf Description | Large, elliptical-shaped fronds arising from a central stem that forms a deep, saucer shape. The fronds can be 3 m in diameter. The spores on the underside of the fronds occur in parallel rows. |
| Flower Description | Deep rosettes. |
| Colour Description | The rosettes are yellowish-green. The fronds are green. |
Photographs
