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Species library › Platycerium › Platycerium superbum
Ferns Well documented

Platycerium superbum

staghorn fern

Australia's giant staghorn fern, a bracket epiphyte of subtropical rainforest in south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales. Its sterile fronds form a large nest up to about 1 m across that traps falling leaves, and its forked fertile fronds hang down up to 2 m. It is grown outdoors as far south as Victoria, so it tolerates cooler winters than most tropical staghorns.

At home, aim for
Day IntermediateTargets in Plantistry
Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry
Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry
Light Bright, filtered lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry
Expects a seasonal restGrows on trees (epiphyte)

Where it grows wild

A bracket epiphyte on tall trees and rock faces in and near rainforest. The upright nest fronds trap leaves and other debris, which rot to feed the plant, and the fertile fronds hang in the open air below.

It grows mainly in coastal and near-coastal ranges from near sea level to several hundred metres. Few GBIF records carry an elevation, so this was not measured.

QueenslandNew South Wales

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates
✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it
✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light
✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it
✓ Substrate and airflow
✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.