Asplenium flabellifolium
Necklace Fern, also known as Butterfly Fern or Walking Fern, is a distinctive small native fern that forms spreading colonies through a remarkable adaptation - its light green, flaccid fronds measuring 70-250mm long arch gracefully and root at their tips, creating new plants in a "walking" progression across suitable rocky terrain. With more than 8 pairs of characteristic fan-shaped pinnae (leaflets) that give this species its botanical name "flabellifolium" (meaning fan-shaped foliage), this hardy fern thrives in dry rocky ground, lava and scoria fields, grassy areas, and along river banks from coastal to subalpine elevations throughout New Zealand. Never found in deep shade or dense forest, this adaptable species colonizes caves, rock crevices, fallen logs, and cliff faces where it creates attractive cascading displays, making it perfect for rock gardens, hanging baskets, and naturalistic plantings that need a delicate groundcover fern capable of spreading into challenging rocky sites. native ferns
Image credit: Necklace Fern (Asplenium flabellifolium). Wikipedia
| Scientific Name | Asplenium flabellifolium |
|---|---|
| Height | 0.07-0.25 meters (trailing fronds) |
| Spread | 0.3-1.0 meters (spreads by rooting tips) |
| Water Needs | Low to moderate (drought-tolerant) |
| Light | Semi-shade (not deep shade) |
| Frost Tolerance | Good (coastal to subalpine) |
| Salt Tolerance | Good (coastal native) |
| Growth Rate | Slow to moderate (spreading colonies) |
| Lifespan | Long-lived perennial |
Necklace Fern is remarkably adaptable throughout New Zealand's diverse climates, thriving from coastal to subalpine conditions. It demonstrates excellent tolerance to environmental variations and performs well across most climate zones.
| City | Climate Suitability |
|---|---|
| Whangārei | Ideal |
| Auckland | Ideal |
| Hamilton | Ideal |
| Tauranga | Ideal |
| Rotorua | Ideal |
| Gisborne | Ideal |
| New Plymouth | Ideal |
| Napier | Ideal |
| Whanganui | Ideal |
| Palmerston North | Ideal |
| Wellington | Ideal |
| Nelson | Ideal |
| Christchurch | Ideal |
| Dunedin | Ideal |
| Invercargill | Good |
Necklace Fern has adaptable soil preferences:
Moderate light preferences:
Low to moderate water needs:
Excellent for rock gardens, stone walls, and hanging baskets, where its trailing, tip‑rooting fronds can cascade and root to form natural colonies.
Necklace Fern requires minimal maintenance:
The natural trailing habit and rooting tips are key attractions that should be preserved to allow the plant's unique spreading characteristic to develop fully.
The best time to plant Necklace Fern is during spring or early autumn when temperatures are moderate and establishment is easier.
Choose a site with:
Water regularly during establishment but avoid overwatering. This hardy fern becomes very low-maintenance once established and will gradually spread through its unique tip-rooting habit.
The easiest and most natural propagation method:
Growing from spores requires more specialized care:
Division is possible with established colonies:
Necklace Fern (Asplenium flabellifolium) represents remarkable adaptation and the botanical creativity of New Zealand's fern flora:
Today, Necklace Fern serves as an excellent example of how native plants can provide both ornamental value and ecological authenticity, particularly valued for its unique spreading habit and adaptability to challenging growing conditions in rock gardens and container cultivation.
Provide appropriate drainage, moderate light levels, and avoid overwatering. This naturally hardy fern thrives when cultural conditions match its rocky habitat preferences and moderate light requirements.
Necklace Fern is perfect for hanging baskets where its natural trailing habit and tip-rooting ability can be fully appreciated - the fronds will cascade beautifully and create new plantlets at their tips, giving you natural propagation material. The fan-shaped pinnae are botanically fascinating and create delicate, lacy displays that are particularly attractive when backlit. This is an excellent choice for rock gardens where it can colonize crevices naturally, and it's surprisingly drought-tolerant once established. Watch for the "walking" behavior as frond tips root and create new plants - it's like having a living demonstration of plant propagation. The key to success is good drainage and avoiding deep shade.
Learn more about New Zealand's diverse fern flora in Native Ferns.
Asplenium flabellifolium (necklace fern) is a small, trailing spleenwort with thin, flaccid fronds bearing multiple pairs of fan‑shaped pinnae. Frond tips often root where they touch suitable substrates, creating spreading colonies across rocks and banks.
Plant into rock crevices or very free‑draining gritty mixes. Water lightly but regularly; maintain moderate humidity and avoid waterlogging.
Asplenium species generally prefer semi-shaded locations with fertile, free-draining soils that remain consistently moist but not waterlogged. Most species benefit from humus-rich growing media and protection from strong winds, though they adapt well to cultivation once established. Many species are slow to establish initially but become hardy once their root systems develop, with some like A. bulbiferum offering easy propagation through bulbils.
Occurs on rocky ground, scoria and lava fields, cliff faces, cave mouths, and river banks from coastal to subalpine zones. Prefers moderate light (not deep shade) and excellent drainage.
A pioneer fern on bare rock and shallow soils, stabilising crevices and providing niche habitat for invertebrates and mosses. Reproduces by spores and tip‑rooting fronds, enabling local spread.
Contributes to early succession on rocky substrates and adds fine texture and biodiversity to rock gardens and natural outcrops. Its colonies help trap dust and organic matter to build soil.
Very low maintenance; trim damaged fronds; protect from slugs/snails. Avoid overwatering and fertilisers that encourage soft growth.
Excellent for rock gardens, stone walls, and hanging baskets where its tip‑rooting habit can be showcased. Adds delicate movement and texture.
Not threatened. In natural habitats, protect rocky sites from trampling and invasive weeds; maintain regional genetic diversity with eco‑sourced material.
Asplenium flabellifolium (necklace fern) represents an interesting aspect of traditional Māori plant knowledge, as this small native fern appears to be one of the few Asplenium species for which no specific traditional rongoā (medicinal) or cultural uses have been documented in available ethnobotanical literature. This absence of recorded traditional applications contrasts notably with many other members of the Asplenium genus, such as pikopiko (A. bulbiferum) and other species that held significant roles in traditional Māori food systems, medicine, and spiritual practices.
The lack of documented traditional uses for necklace fern may reflect several factors including its small size, limited distribution in accessible areas, or perhaps that its applications were either not recorded in historical ethnobotanical studies or were considered less significant compared to more prominent species like manamana (A. bulbiferum). This situation demonstrates the selective nature of traditional plant knowledge systems, where indigenous communities developed detailed understanding and applications for plants that provided the most significant benefits, while other species may have been recognized but not extensively utilized.
Within the broader context of Asplenium cultural significance in traditional Māori society, necklace fern exists as part of a genus that includes some of New Zealand's most culturally important native plants. While A. flabellifolium itself may not have specific traditional applications, it shares the distinctive characteristics that made other Asplenium species valuable—including the iconic koru (unfurling frond) form that appears throughout Māori art and design as a symbol of new life, growth, and peace. This cultural connection places necklace fern within the broader framework of indigenous plant knowledge, even without specific traditional uses, representing the comprehensive understanding Māori developed of their forest environments and the relationships between different plant species.
