Asplenium flaccidum
Drooping Spleenwort, known as makawe in Māori, is a graceful and highly variable epiphytic native fern that creates elegant cascading displays with its thick, leathery fronds measuring 150-900mm long that arch gracefully from short, stout rhizomes attached to native tree trunks and branches throughout New Zealand's forests. With 5-20 pairs of linear, long-stalked pinnae that give the fronds their characteristic drooping appearance, this adaptable species thrives from coastal areas to montane elevations in tall forests, scrub, and boulder-strewn terrain, occasionally growing terrestrially but most commonly as an epiphyte on native trees. Found throughout New Zealand from the Kermadec Islands to Stewart Island and the Chathams, as well as extending to Australia and the wider Pacific, this hardy fern brings authentic forest atmosphere to gardens through container cultivation, hanging baskets, and naturalistic plantings where its soft, arching fronds create beautiful textural contrast and woodland authenticity. native ferns
Image credit: Drooping Spleenwort (Asplenium flaccidum). Wikipedia
| Scientific Name | Asplenium flaccidum |
|---|---|
| Height | 0.15-0.9 meters (frond length) |
| Spread | 0.6-1.0 meters (graceful arching habit) |
| Water Needs | Moderate (epiphytic adaptation) |
| Light | Semi-shade (forest understory) |
| Frost Tolerance | Good (coastal to montane) |
| Salt Tolerance | Good (coastal native) |
| Growth Rate | Slow to moderate (can be slow to establish) |
| Lifespan | Long-lived perennial |
Drooping Spleenwort is remarkably adaptable throughout New Zealand's diverse climates, thriving from coastal to montane 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 | Good |
| Dunedin | Ideal |
| Invercargill | Good |
Drooping Spleenwort has specific substrate preferences:
Forest understory preferences:
Moderate moisture needs:
Drooping Spleenwort is highly valued for its ornamental qualities, making it ideal for hanging baskets, mounted displays on logs or tree fern trunks, and shaded borders. Its graceful, cascading fronds add authentic forest texture and a lush, natural aesthetic to any garden space. It is also suitable for underplanting trees and can be used in native revegetation projects, contributing to the ecological diversity of woodland environments.
Drooping Spleenwort requires minimal maintenance:
The characteristic drooping, arching fronds are the main attraction and should be preserved through minimal intervention to maintain the plant's natural elegance.
The best time to plant Drooping Spleenwort is during spring when active growth begins and establishment is most successful.
Choose a site with:
Water regularly to maintain consistent moisture and provide high humidity. This epiphytic fern can be slow to establish but rewards patience with beautiful, long-lasting displays.
Growing from spores is the primary propagation method:
Division is possible but requires care:
Wind-dispersed spores naturally establish new colonies on suitable substrates, particularly on native trees and in forest environments.
Drooping Spleenwort (Asplenium flaccidum) represents both the ecological complexity of New Zealand's epiphytic flora and the rich cultural heritage of Māori plant knowledge:
Today, Drooping Spleenwort serves as an excellent example of New Zealand's epiphytic flora, providing both horticultural interest and authentic forest character to gardens, particularly valued for its graceful drooping habit and adaptability to container cultivation.
Provide appropriate forest-like conditions including semi-shade, good air circulation, and adequate humidity. This naturally hardy epiphytic fern thrives when cultural conditions match its forest habitat preferences.
Drooping Spleenwort is perfect for creating authentic New Zealand forest atmosphere in containers and hanging baskets - the thick, leathery fronds create beautiful cascading displays that soften garden edges and bring natural woodland elegance to any space. Try mounting it on a tree fern trunk or rough-barked log to mimic its natural epiphytic habitat. The drooping fronds are particularly attractive when positioned where they can arch naturally, creating that characteristic weeping effect. This species is remarkably variable, so don't be surprised if different plants show different frond shapes and sizes - that's completely natural. The key to success is semi-shade, good drainage, and patience during establishment.
Learn more about New Zealand's epiphytic flora in Native Ferns.
Makawe (Asplenium flaccidum) holds profound spiritual significance in Māori mythology as "ngā makawe-o-Raukatauri" (the tresses of Raukatauri), connecting this graceful epiphytic fern to one of the most important supernatural beings in traditional Māori cosmology. Raukatauri represents the atua (deity) of forest music and sound, believed to be the spirit who governs the musical voices of the forest, making this drooping spleenwort not merely a botanical specimen but a living embodiment of the sacred relationship between music, nature, and spiritual presence that characterizes traditional Māori understanding of the natural world.
The traditional name "makawe-o-Raukatauri" literally means "the tresses on the head of Raukatauri," referencing the fern's characteristic drooping, hair-like fronds that cascade from tree trunks and branches like the flowing locks of this supernatural being. Raukatauri, whose name derives from the flute-shaped cocoon of the case-moth caterpillar, governs forest instruments and natural music under the authority of Tāne Mahuta, god of forests and all creatures within them. This mythological connection transforms every specimen of makawe into a sacred reminder of the forest's musical heritage and the spiritual presence that traditional Māori believed animated the natural world.
The sacred status of makawe connects to broader Māori spiritual practices surrounding forest resources and the respectful relationship required between humans and the forest realm. While specific medicinal or practical uses of makawe are not extensively documented, the plant's mythological significance placed it within the complex spiritual framework that governed traditional interactions with forest ecosystems. The graceful, pendant fronds served as visual reminders of Raukatauri's presence, particularly in the humid, musical environment of the forest where the gentle movement of these "tresses" would have resonated with traditional beliefs about the living, breathing nature of the forest community.
Today, the traditional names "makawe-o-Raukatauri" and "whiri o Raukatauri" preserve essential knowledge about the sophisticated spiritual relationship between Māori and their forest environment, representing an understanding of nature that recognized divine presence within everyday botanical encounters. This cultural heritage enriches our contemporary appreciation of this elegant fern, transforming garden cultivation and forest observation into opportunities to connect with traditional Māori cosmology and the enduring significance of forest spirituality that continues to inform indigenous perspectives on environmental stewardship and the sacred nature of New Zealand's native flora.
Asplenium flaccidum (drooping spleenwort, makawe) is a variable epiphytic spleenwort with thick, leathery, arching fronds that droop elegantly from short rhizomes. Fronds bear multiple pairs of long‑stalked, linear pinnae and can reach 15–90 cm in length depending on site conditions.
Use coarse, airy media; maintain steady moisture and humidity; avoid waterlogging and direct sun. Feed lightly in spring with fern‑safe fertiliser.
Widespread from coastal to montane forests across Aotearoa, most commonly as an epiphyte on trunks and branches, and occasionally on rocks or banks. Prefers humid, sheltered microclimates with filtered light.
Contributes to vertical forest structure by occupying bark niches and creating habitat for invertebrates and epiphylls. Reproduces by wind‑dispersed spores; clumps expand slowly from rhizomes.
Enhances canopy and subcanopy biodiversity, intercepts moisture, and contributes organic matter to forest systems. In gardens, provides authentic forest texture and soft, cascading form.
Remove old fronds at the base to tidy clumps. Mist in dry weather to raise humidity. Check for scale or mealybugs and treat early; improve airflow if issues persist.
Excellent in hanging baskets, on tree‑fern logs, or in shaded borders for cascading, forest‑authentic texture. Combines with nikau, kawakawa, and other shade natives.
Not threatened. Maintain canopy cover and humidity in restoration plantings; protect epiphytic habitats from bark stripping and invasive vines.
The drooping spleenwort holds significant cultural value in traditional Māori forest knowledge, known by several traditional names including makawe-o-Raukatauri (the hair of Raukatauri), whiri o Raukatauri, and pohutukawa. The reference to Raukatauri is particularly meaningful, as this figure in Māori tradition is associated with flute music and the sounds of the forest, connecting this graceful epiphytic fern to the acoustic and spiritual dimensions of forest environments. While specific documented uses of this species in rongoā (traditional medicine) are limited compared to its relatives, the plant's distinctive drooping fronds made it an important part of traditional forest resource knowledge, helping identify suitable forest microhabitats and seasonal conditions for gathering other plants.
Asplenium species held sacred significance in Māori culture, particularly as food plants and in spiritual ceremonies. Young unfurling fronds (koru) of pikopiko (A. bulbiferum) were harvested as a delicacy and continue to feature in contemporary Māori cuisine. Several species called pānako were used by tohunga in psychic healing and divination ceremonies, demonstrating their deep spiritual importance beyond their practical applications.
