Asplenium dimorphum × difforme ‘Parvati’ (‘Austral Gem’)

Hybrid background of Asplenium dimorphum × difforme ‘Parvati’ (‘Austral Gem’)

‘Austral Gem’, also sold as ‘Parvati’, is an Australian hybrid of Asplenium dimorphum and Asplenium difforme.

Asplenium dimorphum is native to Norfolk Island. Asplenium difforme is found naturally in eastern Australia, Norfolk Island and New Zealand.

Care for Asplenium dimorphum × difforme ‘Parvati’ (‘Austral Gem’)

• Humidity: Ordinary indoor humidity suits it, including fairly dry rooms.
• Watering: Let the top of the mix dry slightly, then water thoroughly. Keep the potting mix slightly moist and let excess water drain fully.
• Light: Give it bright indirect light or bright shade.
• Potting mix: Use an airy organic mix that stays lightly moist and drains freely.
• Temperature: Average indoor temperatures suit this hybrid.
• Feeding: Give a small dose of balanced fertiliser while the plant is making new fronds.
• Frond care: Cut an old, torn or bent frond cleanly at the base, leaving neighbouring fronds in place.
• Slower growth: When the plant starts producing fewer new fronds, let the surface dry a little further between waterings and pause feeding.
• Repotting: Repot when roots fill the pot, drainage slows or the mix has broken down.
• Propagation: Divide the plant once separate sections have developed their own roots.

Frond, root and pest problems on Asplenium dimorphum × difforme ‘Parvati’ (‘Austral Gem’)

• Crisp tips on the divided fronds: Repeated drying or fertiliser residue can crisp the tips. Keep watering consistent, and rinse the potting mix well with plain water if fertiliser residue is visible.
• Yellowing or soft lower fronds: Excess moisture or poor drainage can soften and yellow lower fronds. Check that water can drain freely and let the surface begin to dry before the next thorough watering.
• New fronds becoming pale or weak: Low light can leave new fronds pale or weak. Give the plant brighter filtered light and a light feed if fresh fronds are coming through.
• New growth slowing while the mix stays wet: Dense potting mix that stays wet can slow growth and damage the roots. Check the drainage. If roots are soft, cut them back to firm healthy tissue with a disinfected tool, discard the decay and clean the tool again. Replace compacted mix with fresh airy mix.
• Sticky residue, bumps or cottony material: A sap-feeding pest may be present. Isolate the plant, identify the pest and use a treatment labelled for the identified pest on ornamental ferns. Follow the application and repeat directions on the label.

If centre growth still stalls after these checks, get in touch and we can review what remains.

Keep Asplenium dimorphum × difforme ‘Parvati’ away from children and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its effects after chewing or swallowing are unclear, and plant material can still cause an upset stomach.
• Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop or do not settle.

The meaning and history of the names Asplenium dimorphum and Asplenium difforme

Asplenium comes from the old Greek name asplenon, linked with splen, spleen. The epithet dimorphum means two-formed, referring to the two distinct frond forms. The epithet difforme means differently shaped.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Asplenium in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 1078.

Gustav Kunze first described Asplenium dimorphum in 1850 in Linnaea, volume 23, page 233.

Robert Brown first described Asplenium difforme in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, page 151.