Musk Fern: Getting to Know This Tropical Newcomer
If you’ve been exploring ferns for your garden and stumbled across the musk fern, you’re probably wondering what exactly this plant is all about. Known botanically as Phymatosorus grossus, this perennial fern has been making itself at home in some tropical locations, though it’s not exactly a household name in the gardening world yet.
What is Musk Fern?
Musk fern, also called maile-scented fern, is a non-woody perennial plant that falls into the forb category. Don’t let the technical terminology fool you—this simply means it’s a soft-stemmed plant without significant woody growth above ground, and it comes back year after year. Like all ferns, it reproduces through spores rather than flowers and seeds.
Where You’ll Find It Growing
Currently, musk fern has established populations in Hawaii and Puerto Rico, where it reproduces on its own in the wild. This fern is considered non-native to these locations, meaning it originally came from somewhere else but has successfully adapted to these tropical environments.
Garden Habitat Preferences
When it comes to moisture preferences, this fern shows some interesting regional variations:
- In Hawaii: Usually prefers drier, upland areas but can tolerate some moisture
- In Puerto Rico and Atlantic coastal regions: Almost always found in upland, non-wetland areas
This suggests musk fern is quite adaptable but generally prefers well-draining conditions over soggy soil.
Should You Grow Musk Fern?
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. While musk fern isn’t currently listed as invasive or noxious, its status in these categories is still unknown. This means we simply don’t have enough information yet to know how aggressively it might spread or whether it could potentially impact native ecosystems.
If you’re drawn to ferns for your tropical or subtropical garden, you might want to consider exploring native fern alternatives first. Native ferns will be better adapted to your local conditions, support local wildlife, and won’t pose any risk of becoming problematic.
What We Don’t Know Yet
Unfortunately, there’s still quite a bit we don’t know about musk fern, including:
- Its specific growing requirements and care needs
- How it benefits (or doesn’t benefit) local wildlife
- Its exact growth form and mature size
- The best propagation methods
- Its potential invasiveness
The Bottom Line
Musk fern represents one of those interesting cases where a plant has successfully established itself in new locations, but we’re still learning about its full impact and characteristics. While it’s not currently flagged as problematic, the gaps in our knowledge suggest it might be wise to take a wait-and-see approach.
If you’re specifically interested in adding ferns to your tropical garden, consider researching native fern species in your area first. They’ll give you that lush, tropical look you’re after while supporting your local ecosystem—and you’ll have much better information about how to grow them successfully!
