Also known as Boston Fern · 62 gardener saves
Nephrolepis: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Nephrolepis, the genus most gardeners know as boston fern. We track 8 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 8 most-saved Nephrolepis varieties
Of 8 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedBrilliance Autumn Fern
Nephrolepis exaltata 'Brilliance Autumn'
#2 most savedGodzilla Fern
Nephrolepis exaltata 'Godzilla'
#3 most savedBoston Fern
Nephrolepis exaltata
Lady in Red Fern
Nephrolepis exaltata 'Lady in Red'
Kimberly Queen Fern
Nephrolepis obliterata 'Kimberly Queen'
Golden Boston Fern
Nephrolepis exaltata 'Jurassic Gold'
Macho Fern
Nephrolepis biserrata 'Macho'
Boston Fern
Nephrolepis exaltata 'Lady'
How to grow Nephrolepis
What the Nephrolepis varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 8 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Nephrolepis year
- FertilizeMarch–August75% of varieties
Feed monthly with a diluted, balanced liquid fertilizer.
- PlantMarch–May63% of varieties
Move containers outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
- Winter PrepSeptember and October63% of varieties
Bring container plants indoors before the first expected frost.
- Spring CleanupFebruary and March63% of varieties
Remove any brown or damaged fronds at the base.
- DivideFebruary–April63% of varieties
Divide crowded plants every 2-3 years to maintain vigor
- PruneFebruary–November38% of varieties
Trim away old, brown, or damaged fronds at the base
Do
- Keep soil consistently moist 🌱
- Provide bright, indirect light
- Maintain high humidity levels
- Fertilize monthly during active growth
- Provide indirect bright light
Avoid
- Avoid direct sunlight which can scorch fronds ❌
- Do not let soil dry out completely
- Don’t let soil dry out completely
- Refrain from over-fertilizing to prevent leaf burn
What goes wrong with Nephrolepis
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Mealybugs | White, cottony masses on fronds | Remove with alcohol-soaked cotton swab and apply horticultural oil |
| Spider Mites | Fine webbing and speckled, yellowing leaves | Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil |
| Scale | Small, brown, shell-like bumps on the fronds and stems. | Wipe off with a cloth or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. For heavy infestations, use horticultural oil. |
| Scale Insects | Small, hard bumps on the stems and undersides of fronds; sticky honeydew. | Dab with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. Apply horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. |
| Root Rot | Wilting and yellowing fronds, soggy soil | Reduce watering, improve drainage, and repot if necessary |
| Leaf Spot | Brown or black spots on fronds | Remove affected leaves and apply fungicide if necessary |
| Root rot | Wilting and brown, mushy roots | Improve drainage and reduce watering |
Making more Nephrolepis
Division
- Water the plant thoroughly the day before dividing.
- Carefully remove the plant from its pot or ground.
- Gently separate root clumps with clean, sharp knife or hands.
- Plant divisions into prepared soil or pots with fresh, moist mix.
- Water thoroughly and place in indirect light.
- Allow 4-6 weeks for new growth to establish.
Spores
- Collect mature spores from undersides of fronds.
- Sprinkle spores onto moist sterile soil surface.
- Mist regularly to keep soil humid.
- Place in indirect light and wait 4-6 weeks for germination.
Nephrolepis questions
How many types of Nephrolepis are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 8 distinct Nephrolepis varieties. The most popular — ranked by 62 real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Nephrolepis grow in?
Across its varieties, Nephrolepis covers USDA Zones 5–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Nephrolepis bloom?
Most Nephrolepis varieties bloom in late spring, late winter, mid-summer. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Nephrolepis should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
Nephrolepis shows up in
Design with Nephrolepis in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
