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    3. Polypodiaceae
    4. Platycerium
    5. Species
    6. Platycerium superbum

    Platycerium superbum

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    Classification Information

    Scientific Name
    Platycerium superbum
    Family
    Polypodiaceae
    Genus
    Platycerium
    Last Updated
    October 16, 2026

    Origin & Distribution

    Native Region
    Eastern Australia
    Distribution
    Queensland and northern New South Wales in eastern Australia, from the tablelands of northeastern Queensland south to northeastern New South Wales.
    Habitat
    Epiphytic on the trunks and branches of large rainforest trees, often on the inland fringes of tableland rainforests; occasionally grows on rocks. The habitat has a long dry season.

    About superbum

    Platycerium superbum is a large epiphytic staghorn fern in the family Polypodiaceae, native to rainforests of eastern Australia. Its kidney-shaped sterile nest fronds can exceed 60 cm and reach about 1 m across, forming an upright basket that catches rain and falling leaf litter and channels water and nutrients to the roots. The fertile foliage fronds, usually produced in pairs, hang down and fork repeatedly, reaching up to about 2 m long; spores develop in a single patch near the first fork. The fertile fronds appear only after the nest fronds have matured. Unlike many species in the genus, it rarely produces offsets (pups), so it is propagated mainly from spores.

    Care Guide

    LightPartial Sun
    WateringModerate (When Dry)
    Temperature5–33°C
    HumidityModerate
    Difficulty:
    Intermediate

    Care Tips

    Mount on a board or grow in a hanging basket in bright light with good air circulation, protecting it from strong direct summer sun to prevent leaf scorch. Let the mounting medium dry before watering again, and keep it on the dry side in cool weather, as young plants are prone to rot. It is not frost hardy. Keep it at about 10°C or above in winter; established plants can tolerate around 5°C. It grows best below about 30°C, and prolonged high temperatures cause smaller, shrunken fronds. Do not remove the brown, dried nest fronds, as they protect the rhizome and roots. Mature plants become heavy, so use a secure mount.

    Growth Records of superbum

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