Squirrel-Foot or Ball Fern
Davallia trichomanoides (POLYPODIACEAE)
Planting and Growing Squirrel-Foot Fern
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow squirrel-foot or ball fern in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Fronds and spores of squirrel-foot or ball fern
- Growing conditions for squirrel-foot or ball fern
- When and where to plant squirrel-foot or ball fern
- How to plant squirrel-foot or ball fern
- How to shape, prune and control growth of squirrel-foot or ball fern
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of squirrel-foot or ball fern
- Landscape uses of squirrel-foot or ball fern
- Pest and disease control for squirrel-foot or ball fern
Growing Squirrel-Foot Fern
Many cultivars of slow- to medium-growing, mounding or trailing, spreading, rhizomatous, evergreen ferns, to 12 in. (30 cm) tall and 30 in. (75 cm) wide, with shiny, bright green, broadly oval, triple-divided, finely cut, lacy fronds, to 18 in. (45 cm) long, and with sprawling, fleshy, brown, tan, white rhizomes covered with hairlike scales.
Humata tyermannii, bear’s-foot fern, is an unrelated species with similar appearance and care needs.
Squirrel-Foot Fern Planting and Care Guide
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 9–11. Tender.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained, sandy loam mixed with humus and charcoal or, in water features, shoreline sites. Fertility: Rich–average. 5.5–6.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Open to partial shade. Space 2 ft. (60 cm) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist spring–autumn; reduce water in winter. Fertilize every 2 months. Deadhead old or broken fronds. Propagate by division, spores, layering of rhizomes.
About This Species
Good choice for hanging baskets, borders, containers, edgings, ground covers in natural, shade, tropical, woodland gardens and water feature shorelines. Good as houseplant. Pest and disease resistant.