Asplenium dimorphum × difforme 'Parvati'

This beautiful spleenwort is a hybrid of two relatively similar spleenworts.

Asplenium dimorphum occurs in nature only on the isolated Norfolk Island, 1400 kilometers east of Australia.

Asplenium difforme has a somewhat larger distribution area along the east coast of Australia.

Both have surprisingly tough, leathery fronds, which you wouldn't expect given their fragile appearance. The leaves actually feel a bit like plastic. However, the plants we offer here are guaranteed to be real, not plastic ;)

The hybrid of these two species also retains this characteristic. The hard, wax-coated fronds protect the fern from drying out, making it very well-suited as a houseplant. Unlike other ferns with delicate fronds, it does not require very high humidity to thrive. Furthermore, the hybrid is triploid (3n) and therefore sterile, meaning it cannot reproduce via spores. It also produces few, or usually no, spores from its sporangia.

The specific epithets " dimorphum " and " difforme " refer to the two very different frond forms that this fern can develop. In its juvenile stage, it forms fronds with broad lobes, known as trophophylls, designed to capture maximum sunlight. As it grows larger, it eventually begins to produce much narrower, delicate fronds, known as sporophylls, which bear the spores.

When fully grown, this hybrid reaches a height of about 50-60 cm and a diameter of 80-100 cm. However, it takes quite a long time to reach its final size, as this species does not grow particularly quickly.