Asplenium bulbiferum: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Indigenous New Zealand Maori collect young fronds of this native edible fern and cook them like vegetables or use them raw. The young fronds are sometimes referred to as bush asparagus.
Plant Profile: Asplenium bulbiferum
Names
Hen and Chickens Fern, Mother Fern, Mother Spleenwort, New Zealand Common Spleenwort, Pikopiko
Phonetic Spelling:as-PLEE-nee-um bulb-EE-fer-um
Genus:Asplenium
Species:bulbiferum
Family:Aspleniaceae
Mother Spleenwort is a unique tropical fern that is exclusively found in New Zealand, thriving in many of its forested regions. Outside its native habitat, it is commonly marketed as a houseplant, typically grown in containers. This fern is part of the Spleenwort family, a name derived from the historical belief in its medicinal properties related to the spleen.
The Mother Spleenwort is distinguished by its delicate, feathery leaves that emerge from a central crown. Its tall fronds can reach up to four feet in height, arching elegantly. Unlike many plants, Spleenworts do not produce flowers or fruit; instead, they primarily propagate through spores found in sori on the undersides of their fronds. Additionally, as suggested by its name, Mother Spleenwort can reproduce vegetatively. The fronds develop small offsets, approximately two inches long, which detach and can grow into new ferns near the parent plant.
This fern thrives in low-light conditions, preferring dappled to deep shade, and requires well-drained, moist, acidic soil. It is also edible; the indigenous Maori people harvest young fronds, which can be consumed raw or cooked like vegetables. In suitable cultivation zones, it is best positioned in shady, sheltered spots, such as under an awning or in north-facing areas, to protect it from direct sunlight and wind. Mother Spleenwort is visually appealing in containers, mass plantings, hanging baskets, or as a focal point in shady or woodland gardens. When grown indoors, it should be placed in a bright room away from direct sunlight, with regular watering to maintain consistent moisture. A potting mix that includes clay, loam, chalk, and sand is ideal for its growth.
Asplenium bulbiferum Feature Summary
Asplenium bulbiferum Image Gallery
Tags
#shade tolerant
#shade garden
#lacy leaves
#fern
#deer resistant
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats
Similar Plants
Asplenium bulbiferum Feature Summary
Attributes
Indigenous New Zealand Maori collect young fronds of this native edible fern and cook them like vegetables or use them raw. The young fronds are sometimes referred to as bush asparagus.
New Zeland
South Asia, Australia, New Zealand
Deer, Heavy Shade
Edible young fronds
Perennial
Fruit
No fruits. The plant propagates vegetatively and by spores.
Flowers
No flowers.
Leaves
Fronds emerge from a single crown and are comprised of smooth, feathery, finely cut, alternately arranged bipinnate leaves. Plants propagate from spores that develop in sori on the undersides of leaves. This fern also propagates vegetatively, forming small offsets along the leaves that will drop to the ground near the parent plant and grown into new ferns.
Green
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Alternate
Soft
Whole Plant Traits
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Fern
Arching
Rounded
Erect
Medium
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
12 inches-3 feet
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Stem
Landscape
Rock Garden
Asian Garden
Shade Garden
Mass Planting
Accent
Small groups
Specimen
Deer
Heavy Shade
Container
Woodland
Small Space
Houseplants
Hanging Baskets
Asplenium bulbiferum Image Gallery
Asplenium bulbiferum Attributes
Asplenium bulbiferum: Country Or Region Of Origin
New Zeland
Asplenium bulbiferum: Distribution
South Asia, Australia, New Zealand
Asplenium bulbiferum: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Deer, Heavy Shade
Asplenium bulbiferum: Edibility
Edible young fronds
Asplenium bulbiferum: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Asplenium bulbiferum Fruit
Asplenium bulbiferum: Fruit Description
No fruits. The plant propagates vegetatively and by spores.
Asplenium bulbiferum Flowers
Asplenium bulbiferum: Flower Description
No flowers.
Asplenium bulbiferum Leaves
Asplenium bulbiferum: Leaf Description
Fronds emerge from a single crown and are comprised of smooth, feathery, finely cut, alternately arranged bipinnate leaves. Plants propagate from spores that develop in sori on the undersides of leaves. This fern also propagates vegetatively, forming small offsets along the leaves that will drop to the ground near the parent plant and grown into new ferns.
Asplenium bulbiferum: Leaf Color
Green
Asplenium bulbiferum: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Asplenium bulbiferum: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Asplenium bulbiferum: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Asplenium bulbiferum: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Asplenium bulbiferum: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Asplenium bulbiferum Whole Plant Traits
Asplenium bulbiferum: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Asplenium bulbiferum: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Asplenium bulbiferum: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Asplenium bulbiferum: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Asplenium bulbiferum Cultural Conditions
Asplenium bulbiferum: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Asplenium bulbiferum: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Asplenium bulbiferum: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Asplenium bulbiferum: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Asplenium bulbiferum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
9a
9b
Asplenium bulbiferum: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Asplenium bulbiferum Stem
Asplenium bulbiferum: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Asplenium bulbiferum Landscape
Asplenium bulbiferum: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Asplenium bulbiferum: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Asplenium bulbiferum: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Asplenium bulbiferum: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
