Weeping Fern: A Delicate Hawaiian Native for Your Tropical Garden
If you’ve ever wandered through Hawaii’s lush forests and spotted delicate, drooping ferns clinging to tree bark, you’ve likely encountered the charming weeping fern (Lepisorus thunbergianus). This petite epiphytic fern, also known by its Hawaiian name pakahakaha, brings a touch of tropical elegance to any garden that can accommodate its specific needs.
What Makes Weeping Fern Special
The weeping fern is a true native Hawaiian treasure, though it also calls other Pacific regions home. As an epiphytic fern, it doesn’t grow in soil like most plants we’re familiar with. Instead, it makes its home on tree bark, rocks, and other surfaces, drawing moisture and nutrients from the air and rain.
This perennial fern produces narrow, leathery fronds that cascade gracefully downward, creating the weeping effect that gives it its common name. The fronds typically reach just a few inches in length, making this a relatively small and manageable addition to your garden.
Where You’ll Find Weeping Fern
In its native habitat, weeping fern thrives throughout Hawaii, where it’s considered a facultative upland species. This means you’ll usually find it in non-wetland areas, though it can occasionally pop up in wetter locations. The fern prefers the dappled shade of Hawaii’s native forests, where it can attach itself to the bark of larger trees.
Is Weeping Fern Right for Your Garden?
Before you get excited about adding this Hawaiian native to your collection, consider whether your garden can meet its rather specific needs:
- You live in USDA hardiness zones 9-11
- You can provide consistently high humidity
- You have shaded areas with indirect light
- You’re comfortable with epiphytic growing methods
If you checked all those boxes, weeping fern could be a delightful addition to your tropical or subtropical garden. It’s particularly well-suited for:
- Shade gardens where traditional plants struggle
- Epiphyte gardens mounted on trees or structures
- Tropical landscape designs seeking authentic Hawaiian plants
- Rock gardens with good drainage and humidity
Growing Weeping Fern Successfully
Since weeping fern is an epiphyte, forget everything you know about traditional planting. Here’s how to give this unique fern the home it craves:
Mounting and Support: Attach your weeping fern to tree bark, cork bark, or rough rocks using fishing line or plant ties. The key is providing a surface it can grip while allowing air circulation around the roots.
Light Conditions: Bright, indirect light works best. Direct sunlight will quickly damage the delicate fronds, while too much shade will slow growth.
Humidity and Water: This is where many gardeners struggle. Weeping fern needs consistently high humidity (60% or higher) and regular misting. In drier climates, you might need to create a microclimate using humidity trays or frequent watering.
Temperature: Keep temperatures between 65-80°F (18-27°C). These ferns don’t tolerate frost or extreme heat.
Identifying Weeping Fern
Weeping fern is relatively easy to identify once you know what to look for:
- Small, narrow fronds that droop or cascade downward
- Leathery texture that feels thick compared to other ferns
- Grows as an epiphyte on trees, rocks, or other surfaces
- Fronds typically measure 2-6 inches in length
- Forms small clusters or colonies over time
Benefits to Your Garden
While weeping fern won’t attract pollinators like flowering plants, it offers other valuable benefits:
- Adds texture and visual interest to shaded areas
- Helps create authentic tropical atmospheres
- Requires no soil, making it perfect for challenging locations
- Supports native Hawaiian plant diversity if you’re in suitable climates
- Low maintenance once established in proper conditions
Weeping fern might not be the easiest plant for beginners, but for gardeners in tropical zones looking to add authentic Hawaiian character to their landscape, it’s definitely worth considering. Just remember that success with this charming epiphyte depends entirely on your ability to recreate its preferred humid, shaded forest conditions.
