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Austral Gem
- Common Name: Austral Gem
- Scientific Name: Asplenium dimorphum x difforme 'Austral Gem'
- Family Name: Aspleniaceae
- Origin: Australia
- Height: 18-24 in
- Width: 18-24 in
- Growth: Slow
- Zone: 9-11
- Light needs: Part shade to full shade
- Salt tolerance: Moderate
- Soil/pH/Texture: Moist, organically rich, well-drained soil, acidic to neutral (pH 7.0-8.5)
- Moisture: Soil should be kept consistently moist, but not overly wet.
- Drought tolerance: Moderate, can handle some dryness but ideally should be kept in moist conditions.
- Pests/Diseases: Mealybugs, aphids and scale may be a minor issue.
- Growing conditions: Grows best in a shady area away from direct sunlight and strong wind. Underneath trees is a great area for it, as the canopy will protect it from strong wind and sunlight. Soil should be kept moist, however, do not plant it in an area prone to flooding, as waterlogged soil is not good for it. It also makes a great houseplant since it’s more drought tolerant than other ferns, and therefore, it can tolerate drier indoor conditions. If kept indoors, place it in bright, indirect sunlight and make sure its soil doesn’t dry out.
- Characteristics: Grows in a clumping, mounded formation. Fronds are a rich green that may sometimes have hints of blueish-green. The individual leaflets are serrated yet round, and somewhat resemble parsley leaves. Sori, which contain spores, are arranged in lines on the underside of the leaves.
- Propagation: By spores or by division
- Wildlife: It is rarely eaten by anything, but its leaves may provide shade for small animals.
- Facts: This plant is a cultivar of Asplenium dimorphum, which is endemic to Norfolk Island, an island near Australia.
- Designer considerations: It is a great choice for mass plantings/ground cover in shaded area, especially underneath trees. Place it near flowering plants for a more complete and tropical look.
Austral Gem
Location
Ancient Garden