18 Staghorn Fern Varieties, Species, and Types (With Pictures)

🌿 18 Staghorn Fern Varieties

Staghorn ferns (Platycerium spp.) are unique epiphytic plants, celebrated for their dramatic, antler-like fronds. These fascinating plants possess two distinct types of leaves: round basal fronds, which serve to protect the roots and gather nutrients, and the iconic forked fertile fronds that resemble deer antlers.

There are approximately 18 known species of staghorn ferns, primarily found in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. Below, we explore these 18 varieties, including both wild species and cultivated forms. We’ll highlight their botanical names, distinctive features, specific care needs, natural habitats, and their popularity within the gardening community. While each may have nuanced requirements, the fundamentals of Staghorn Fern care apply broadly.

🌿 Platycerium andinum (Andean Staghorn Fern)

The Andean staghorn fern mounted on a board, showing a broad shield frond and drooping antler fronds.

Platycerium andinum holds the distinction of being the only staghorn fern native to the Americas. It thrives in the misty, mid-elevation forests of the Andes in Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia. This variety presents a softer appearance compared to many others. Its sterile shield fronds form a protective pad against its mount, while its antler-like fertile fronds can achieve lengths of up to 3–4 feet in mature plants. The fertile fronds arch outward gracefully, rather than spiking sharply, lending it an elegant, draping look.

🌿 Platycerium alcicorne (African Staghorn Fern)

Platycerium alcicorne is often referred to as the African Staghorn Fern, though its native range extends from Madagascar to parts of East Africa. It is distributed across Madagascar and nearby islands (like Comoros, Réunion) and also in eastern African countries such as Kenya and Mozambique.

This species closely resembles the common staghorn (P. bifurcatum) but tends to be more compact. It features deeply forked, antler-like fertile fronds and rounded basal fronds that overlap like shingles. The frond lobes of P. alcicorne are usually more deeply cut and slender compared to P. bifurcatum, giving it a slightly more intricate, lacey appearance.

🌿 Platycerium bifurcatum (Common Staghorn Fern)

A mature common staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) growing on a tree, showing large brown basal fronds and hanging green antler fronds.

Platycerium bifurcatum is the classic staghorn fern, a familiar sight in many gardens and homes. It is the most widely cultivated variety, known for being relatively hardy and easy to grow. Native to the rainforests of Java, New Guinea, and eastern Australia (Queensland and New South Wales), this species boasts gracefully arching, forked fronds that can reach 2–3 feet in length.

The fertile fronds fork into multiple “antlers” and have a velvety coating. At the base, it produces round, overlapping shield fronds that start green and age to brown, creating a layered “nest” that collects leaves and water. P. bifurcatum readily produces offsets for propagation. These pups are ideal for propagating new staghorn ferns.

🌿 Platycerium coronarium (Crown Staghorn Fern)

Platycerium coronarium, known as the Crown Staghorn, is a majestic species native to Southeast Asia. Its range extends widely through countries like Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Borneo), Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. P. coronarium is famous for its spectacularly long, draping fronds.

The fertile fronds can cascade several feet, branching multiple times to resemble a cascade of green antlers. These fronds often have distinctive forked tips with rounded, spoon-like lobes where spores form. The basal fronds of P. coronarium are large and upright, forming a tall, verdant crown (hence the name “crown staghorn”) that can collect organic debris. In the wild, this species often grows high in rainforest trees and can reach truly imposing sizes.

🌿 Platycerium elephantotis (Elephant Ear Staghorn Fern)

Platycerium elephantotis, aptly nicknamed the Elephant Ear Staghorn, boasts one of the most unusual shapes in the genus. It is native to the tropical savannas and forests of sub-Saharan Africa, found in countries from West Africa across to Sudan and down to South Africa.

The most striking feature of P. elephantotis is its enormous sterile fronds: instead of small round shields, it grows huge undulating fronds that can resemble elephant ears – broad, somewhat wrinkled, and sometimes up to 2 feet across. These green shield fronds have pronounced veins and tend to stay green and fleshy, covering the base of the plant. The fertile fronds of P. elephantotis are comparatively short and not as deeply forked as those of other staghorns, often just lobed at the tips. This gives the plant a bold, tropical look quite different from the typical antler-like silhouette.

🌿 Platycerium ellisii (Ellis’s Staghorn Fern)

Platycerium ellisii is a delicate and rare staghorn fern from Madagascar, named after the botanist Ellis and endemic to specific provinces of the island. This species is relatively small and elegant. It features slender, elongated fertile fronds that tend to grow upright or slightly arching. These antler fronds are deeply bifurcated but narrower than those of most other species, giving the plant a more fine-textured look.

The basal fronds of P. ellisii are small, rounded to kidney-shaped, and often form a tight, overlapping cluster at the base. Uniquely, the basal fronds may remain green and do not form a large brown shield; they hug the mount closely, protecting the roots. Overall, P. ellisii has a tidy, compact growth habit.

🌿 Platycerium grande (Grand Staghorn Fern)

Platycerium grande lives up to its name – it is a grand, imposing staghorn fern. Native to the Philippines (particularly Mindanao) and parts of Sulawesi in Indonesia, this species rivals P. superbum in size and splendor. P. grande features very large, lobed fertile fronds that cascade downward elegantly, reaching several feet long and splitting into broad, ribbon-like segments.

The basal fronds are also impressive, growing upright and shield-like, sometimes with wavy lobed edges forming a tall funnel or “moose antler” shape. Unlike some species, P. grande usually grows as a solitary rosette, focusing its energy on a single dramatic specimen. It is often nicknamed the Moosehorn Fern.

🌿 Platycerium hillii (Hill’s Staghorn Fern)

Platycerium hillii, or Hill’s Staghorn, is native to northeastern Australia (Queensland) and nearby regions like New Guinea and Papua (Indonesia). Sometimes considered a variety of P. bifurcatum, it has its own distinct traits. P. hillii is a medium-sized staghorn with a relatively neat growth habit.

Its fertile fronds are broad and bifurcated, but generally shorter and more spoon-shaped at the tips compared to P. bifurcatum, often with wavy edges. The basal fronds are rounded, forming overlapping layers. P. hillii tends to remain smaller, usually 1–2 feet across, making it manageable for indoor culture.

🌿 Platycerium holttumii (Holttum’s Staghorn Fern)

Platycerium holttumii, named after R.E. Holttum, is a large staghorn fern from parts of Southeast Asia, primarily the Malay Peninsula, Thailand, and Indochina. This species has a robust and commanding presence. The fertile fronds are deeply lobed but relatively short and wide, often projecting outward stiffly.

These fronds typically split into broad forked segments. The basal fronds are substantial and overlapping, building a thick, upright structure. Often, the top of the basal frond mass develops into an open crown of lobes, helping catch debris. Fronds are green with a light fuzz.

🌿 Platycerium madagascariense (Madagascar Staghorn Fern)

Platycerium madagascariense is an intriguing and rare staghorn fern native to Madagascar. It stands out for its thick, leathery fronds and unique growth form. The basal fronds are rounded and deeply veined, forming a tight shield that often remains green, creating a verdant disk with a quilted appearance.

The fertile fronds typically grow upright and are lobed or fingered at their tips, often shorter than other species, possessing a sculptural quality. P. madagascariense tends to stay relatively small (1–1.5 feet in diameter).

🌿 Platycerium quadridichotomum (Four-Forked Staghorn Fern)

Platycerium quadridichotomum is a lesser-known species noted for its repeatedly forking fronds. The name “quadridichotomum” refers to multiple (four or more) dichotomous divisions. Native exclusively to parts of northern Madagascar, it has a limited range and is quite rare.

P. quadridichotomum has fertile fronds that arch outward and are divided into many segments, creating a dense, bushy spread. The frond segments are relatively narrow and can form a tangle. The basal fronds are rounded and form a tidy shield. This species is midsized (1–2 feet across) with a more horizontal spread.

🌿 Platycerium ridleyi (Ridley’s Staghorn Fern)

Platycerium ridleyi, or Ridley’s Staghorn, is an exotic and famously challenging fern from the rainforests of Malaysia, Borneo, and Sumatra. It has a very distinct growth habit and relationship with its environment. P. ridleyi’s basal fronds form a rounded, bowl-like structure with conspicuous raised ridges or veins, creating enclosed spaces that often house ant colonies (it’s a myrmecophyte).

The fertile fronds are relatively short, fan upward, and are lobed, often with a unique, almost circular shape and forked tips. They project outward or upward. The plant stays fairly compact (around 1 foot across), but the basal frond “bowl” can be thick, resembling a waffle texture.

🌿 Platycerium stemaria (African Staghorn, Triangle Staghorn Fern)

Platycerium stemaria, another African member, is sometimes called the Triangle Staghorn. It has a wide native range across tropical Africa (Angola, Cameroon, Gabon, etc.). It’s characterized by very deeply divided fertile fronds creating a striking silhouette.

The fronds fork into narrow segments, giving a spidery or triangular outline; each frond often splits into a few major lobes which further split. Segments are slender and pendulous, reaching 2–3 feet. Basal fronds are round, lobed at the top, forming a small brownish shield with age. Often grows as a cluster.

🌿 Platycerium superbum (Superb Staghorn Fern)

A mounted Platycerium superbum displaying its large, velvety basal frond (covering the board) and emerging fertile frond.

Platycerium superbum, true to its name, is a spectacular fern native to eastern Australia (Queensland, New South Wales). Often regarded as the “crown jewel” of staghorns for its impressive size and form, P. superbum produces a single large rosette rather than pups, becoming massive over time.

Its sterile basal fronds are huge and shield-like, growing upright in a nest shape, reaching up to 4–5 feet across. Fertile fronds emerge above and behind, drooping gracefully, forked into a few broad segments up to 3–4 feet long. Young fronds are covered in soft, silver hairs.

🌿 Platycerium veitchii (Silver Elkhorn Fern)

A young Platycerium veitchii mounted on a board. Note the silvery fuzz on its upright fronds.

Platycerium veitchii, the Silver Elkhorn or Desert Staghorn, is native to semi-arid regions of Queensland, Australia, adapted to drier environments. It’s recognized by the silvery-white coating on its fronds – a dense covering of star-shaped hairs that reflect sunlight and reduce water loss.

Fertile fronds are typically upright, narrow, with a few dichotomous forks resulting in slender prongs. Basal fronds often grow in an upright cone with finger-like projections, also covered in white fuzz. It handles more light and less humidity than other staghorns.

🌿 Platycerium wallichii (Wallich’s Staghorn Fern)

Platycerium wallichii, named after Nathaniel Wallich, hails from Southeast Asia (northeastern India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia). It has a graceful form with long, pendulous fertile fronds – slender, elongated, often hanging straight down (2–3 feet or more), forking a few times near the tips.

Basal fronds are relatively large, rounded, often with a textured surface and scalloped edges. It tends to grow slowly and can be more delicate.

🌿 Platycerium wandae (Wanda’s Staghorn Fern)

Platycerium wandae is a giant among staghorns, discovered in the 1990s in Papua New Guinea and named after Wanda, its discoverer. Native to lowland rainforests of New Guinea and the Maluku Islands, P. wandae boasts some of the largest fronds of any staghorn.

Fertile fronds are massive, arching, numerous, and can reach extraordinary lengths (6 feet or more), draping and spreading to create a huge canopy. Basal fronds are correspondingly large, forming a broad, layered shield. A true statement plant due to sheer size.

🌿 Platycerium willinckii (Willinck’s Staghorn Fern)

Platycerium willinckii (often spelled willinckii) is a distinctive fern from Indonesia (Sulawesi, Java). Some consider it related to or a subspecies of P. bifurcatum, but it has its own unique charm. This medium-sized species has narrow, deeply divided fronds that droop elegantly.

Fertile fronds reach about 2 feet, are dark green, and split into many slender, dangling prongs, giving a weeping antler effect. Basal fronds are comparatively small, forming a wavy, slightly uplifted shield. Often produces pups and can form a clump. Popular in hybridization.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions