42 Boston Fern Varieties, Species, and Types (With Pictures)

🌿 42 Boston Fern Varieties

Boston Ferns, scientifically known as Nephrolepis exaltata, are beloved for their lush, feathery fronds that bring a touch of verdant elegance to any space. While the classic Boston Fern is widely recognized, the Nephrolepis exaltata species boasts an incredible array of cultivars, each with unique textures, sizes, and growth habits. From compact varieties perfect for small apartments to large, dramatic specimens, there’s a Boston Fern for nearly every indoor gardener.

These ferns are generally appreciated for their air-purifying qualities and relative ease of care, though they thrive best with consistent moisture and high humidity. Below, we delve into 42 distinct varieties, showcasing their beauty and specific characteristics. While specific needs may vary slightly, the core principles of 👉 Boston Fern care provide a solid foundation for all.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’ (Classic Boston Fern)

Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’ is the quintessential Boston Fern, the variety that typically comes to mind. It’s cherished for its elegant, arching fronds densely packed with small, bright green leaflets (pinnae), creating a full and feathery appearance. This variety can grow quite large, making it an excellent statement plant.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Fluffy Ruffles’

‘Fluffy Ruffles’ is adored for its unique, three-dimensional texture. The fronds are shorter and more upright than the classic Boston Fern, with leaflets that are intricately ruffled and curled, giving it a very dense and “fluffy” look. It’s a more compact variety.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Dallasii’ (Dallas Fern)

The ‘Dallasii’ or Dallas Fern is a more compact and manageable version of the Boston Fern. It has shorter, somewhat upright fronds with a slightly coarser texture than ‘Bostoniensis’. It’s known for being a bit more tolerant of lower humidity and light conditions than other varieties.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Vitale’

‘Vitale’ is known for its vigorous growth and full, lush appearance. It shares similarities with the classic Boston Fern but often presents a slightly more upright habit in its youth before fronds arch gracefully. It’s a strong grower, filling out pots nicely.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Emina’ (Dragon Tail Fern)

‘Emina’, often called the Dragon Tail Fern, is a fascinating variety with very distinctive frond tips. The leaflets are irregular, often twisted, and the frond tips can be crested or fork in a way that resembles a dragon’s tail. It’s a compact grower with a somewhat quirky, architectural look.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Cotton Candy’

Cotton Candy Fern or Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Smithii’ or Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Cotton Candy’ has incredibly fine, thread-like leaflets that give it an exceptionally soft, fluffy, and almost cloud-like appearance. The fronds are a lighter shade of green and arch delicately. It is one of the most ethereal-looking Boston Fern varieties.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Montana’

‘Montana’ is a robust variety, often characterized by broader, slightly more leathery leaflets compared to ‘Bostoniensis’. It tends to have a more upright growth habit, especially when young, with strong fronds that can withstand a bit more handling.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Petticoat’

‘Petticoat’ is named for its beautifully layered and ruffled fronds. The leaflets are divided and frilled along the edges, creating a multi-layered, voluminous look, much like the frills of a petticoat. It’s a very decorative and full variety.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Macho’ (Macho Fern)

The ‘Macho’ Fern is a significantly larger and more robust variety than the classic Boston Fern. Its fronds are broader, longer (can reach 4 feet), and have a more open, arching habit. It’s excellent for large hanging baskets or as a bold floor plant. It is sometimes classified as Nephrolepis biserrata ‘Macho’.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Gloriosa’

‘Gloriosa’ is known for its long, gracefully weeping fronds that are more finely divided than the classic Boston fern, giving it a lacy and elegant appearance. The fronds can become quite long, making it an excellent choice for hanging baskets where its delicate beauty can be fully appreciated.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Roosevelt Gloriosa’

‘Roosevelt Gloriosa’ is a magnificent variety, often larger and more dramatic than ‘Gloriosa’. It features broad, wavy fronds, and the leaflets themselves can be undulate or even crested at the tips, giving it a very full and opulent look. It’s a showstopper.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Suzi Wong’

‘Suzi Wong’ is an exceptionally delicate and finely textured variety. Its fronds are composed of tiny, almost moss-like leaflets, giving it an extremely soft and airy appearance. The color is often a lighter, pale green. It requires very high humidity to thrive.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Florida Ruffle’

‘Florida Ruffle’ is similar to ‘Fluffy Ruffles’ but can sometimes be distinguished by slight variations in the intensity of ruffling or growth habit. It features densely packed, ruffled leaflets that create a very full, textured look on relatively compact plants.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Elzevir’

‘Elzevir’ is an elegant variety, often with a finer texture than the standard Boston Fern. Its fronds arch gracefully, and the leaflets might be slightly more delicate or spaced, contributing to a refined appearance.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Elegantissima’

‘Elegantissima’ is one of the most finely dissected and voluminous Boston Ferns. The fronds are multi-pinnate (divided multiple times), creating an incredibly dense, fluffy, and lace-like appearance. It forms a full, soft mound of feathery green.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Moment’

‘Green Moment’ is a variety that aims to capture the essence of a perfectly lush and healthy Boston Fern. It typically features vibrant green, gracefully arching fronds that create a full and pleasing shape, embodying the timeless appeal of these ferns.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Boston Blue Bell’

‘Boston Blue Bell’ is noted for the subtle blue-green hue of its fronds, which sets it apart from the more common bright green varieties. It typically has a classic Boston Fern form with arching fronds, but with this unique color variation.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Ariane’

‘Ariane’ is a popular modern cultivar known for its compact and very dense, bushy growth. The fronds are typically shorter and more upright, packed closely together, creating a very full look in a smaller package. It’s often favored for its neat appearance.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Tiger Fern’

The ‘Tiger Fern’ (often Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Tiger’) is a variegated Boston Fern variety. It features green fronds that are striped or streaked with bands of yellow or gold, creating a striking “tiger stripe” pattern. The intensity of variegation can vary.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Compacta’

As its name suggests, ‘Compacta’ is a smaller, more contained version of the Boston Fern. It maintains the classic feathery look but in a more manageable size, making it ideal for tabletops, shelves, or smaller hanging baskets. Fronds are shorter and the overall plant is denser.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Whitmanii’

‘Whitmanii’ is renowned for its extremely feathery and delicate appearance, even more so than ‘Elegantissima’ in some forms. The fronds are usually 2-3 times pinnate, resulting in very fine, airy, and lace-like foliage. It creates a soft, almost cloud-like mass of green.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Lady Boston’

‘Lady Boston’ is a name often given to select strains of Boston Ferns that exhibit a particularly graceful and refined form. It typically features long, elegant, arching fronds with a classic feathery texture, embodying a sophisticated “ladylike” appeal.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Kimberly Queen’ (Kimberly Queen Fern)

Often sold as a Boston Fern type, ‘Kimberly Queen’ (more accurately Nephrolepis obliterata) has a distinctly different look. Its fronds are more upright, rigid, and sword-shaped, with darker green, leathery leaflets. It’s known for being more tolerant of lower humidity and brighter light than typical Boston Ferns.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Golden Boston’

‘Golden Boston’ is a striking color variant where the fronds exhibit a beautiful golden-yellow or chartreuse hue, especially prominent on new growth. The intensity of the color can depend on light conditions. It has the classic arching Boston Fern form.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Rita’s Gold’

Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Rita’s Gold’ is a compact fern that glows with brilliant golden-chartreuse fronds.

‘Rita’s Gold’ is another stunning golden-hued variety, often more compact than ‘Golden Boston’. Its fronds are a brilliant golden-yellow or chartreuse, making it a vibrant accent plant. The color is most intense in good light.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Fluffy Duffy’

‘Fluffy Duffy’ is an exceptionally compact and densely textured variety, often forming an almost perfect spherical or dome shape. Its fronds are very short and the leaflets are tiny and tightly packed, creating an appearance reminiscent of green moss or a fluffy ball.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Hawaiiensis’

‘Hawaiiensis’ is a name that suggests a particularly lush, tropical appearance, often with vibrant green, gracefully arching fronds. It might be similar to the classic ‘Bostoniensis’ but perhaps selected for vigor or a particularly verdant look reminiscent of Hawaiian flora.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Massii’

‘Massii’ is an older cultivar known for its robust growth and dense fronds. It may appear somewhat more upright than ‘Bostoniensis’, especially when young, and can form a very full, substantial plant.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Rooseveltii’

‘Rooseveltii’ is a classic, striking variety named in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt. It’s characterized by its large, broad fronds where the leaflets are distinctly wavy, ruffled, or even crested at the tips. This gives the plant a very bold and ornamental appearance.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Todeoides’

‘Todeoides’ is named for its resemblance to ferns of the genus Todea, featuring extremely finely dissected fronds. The leaflets are divided into minuscule segments, creating an exceptionally dense, soft, and moss-like texture. It’s one of the most delicate-looking cultivars.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’

‘Green Lady’ is a popular cultivar known for its exceptionally full and lush appearance. It produces abundant, gracefully arching fronds of a rich, deep green color, creating a dense, fountain-like effect. It’s a vigorous grower and often very reliable.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Teddy Junior’

‘Teddy Junior’ is a dwarf variety, appreciated for its compact size and soft, slightly ruffled or crinkled fronds. It forms a neat, small mound, making it perfect for terrariums, small pots, or mixed plantings.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Sonata’

‘Sonata’ is a compact and tidy variety, often with a more upright stance than the classic Boston Fern. Its fronds are well-formed and create a neat, pleasing silhouette. It’s valued for maintaining a good shape without becoming overly large.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Lemon Buttons’ (Lemon Button Fern)

Often listed as Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’ or ‘Lemon Buttons’, this fern is characterized by its small, rounded, almost button-like leaflets arranged along slender, arching fronds. Some report a faint lemony scent when the fronds are brushed. It’s a charming, smaller variety.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Boston’s Princess’

‘Boston’s Princess’ evokes a sense of delicate royalty. This variety likely features finely textured, perhaps somewhat lacy fronds that arch gracefully, offering a more refined and elegant take on the classic Boston Fern.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Fantasy’

‘Green Fantasy’ suggests a variety with a particularly lush, perhaps unusually textured or formed frond structure that sparks the imagination. It could feature denser foliage, unique ruffling, or a particularly vibrant shade of green.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Duffii’ (Duff’s Fern)

‘Duffii’, or Duff’s Fern, is very similar to, if not the same as, ‘Lemon Buttons’. It is typically Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’. It has small, nearly round leaflets (pinnae) that are closely set on rather stiff, erect to arching fronds. It is a compact grower.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Regina’

‘Regina’, meaning “Queen,” implies a variety of regal stature and beauty. This could translate to particularly large, full fronds, perhaps with some cresting or ruffling, giving it a majestic and commanding presence.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Marisa’

‘Marisa’ is an exceptionally dwarf and finely textured variety, even more so than ‘Fluffy Duffy’ or ‘Teddy Junior’. It forms a very tight, dense cushion of minute, moss-like foliage. It’s an excellent choice for terrariums or fairy gardens where space is limited.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Corditas’

‘Corditas’ suggests a connection to Nephrolepis cordifolia or refers to small, heart-shaped (cordate) leaflets. This is likely a compact variety with small, neatly arranged leaflets, possibly rounded or with a slight heart shape at their base, giving it a charming, diminutive appearance.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Boston Marathon’

‘Boston Marathon’ is a cultivar likely named for its exceptionally long, trailing fronds that can “run” a considerable distance, much like marathon runners. Expect very long, weeping fronds, making it ideal for high hanging baskets where it can fully cascade.

🌿 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Verona’ (Lace Fern)

‘Verona’, often sold as the Lace Fern, is one of the most exquisitely finely-cut Boston Fern varieties. Its fronds are multi-pinnate (divided many times) to an extreme degree, creating an incredibly delicate, airy, and lace-like appearance. It is exceptionally beautiful but requires high humidity.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions