Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’ foliage detail showing small button-like leaflets on fine fronds

Baby Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’ with compact fronds lined by rounded green leaflets

Baby Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’ with young arching fronds and button-like foliage

Baby Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’ with green fronds and closely spaced round leaflets

Baby Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’ with a tufted centre and fine arching fronds

Baby Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’ with small rounded leaflets along slender arching fronds

Baby Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’ with low dense growth and small rounded leaflets

Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’ close-up with rounded leaflets arranged along a slender green frond

Medium Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’ with a dense mound of fine arching fronds

Medium Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’ with narrow fronds spreading from a compact centre

Medium Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’ with fine green fronds and rounded button-like leaflets

Nephrolepidaceae

Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii'

Lemon Button Fern

5 for 4Pet Friendly

Small rounded leaflets give Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii' its button-like texture. Short, wiry fronds form a neat clump, and fine runners extend outward from established plants.

Read full guide to Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii'

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Choose a size

Baby · XS Pot Ø 6 cm · approx. 10 cm tall M Pot Ø 12 cm · approx. 15 cm tall

Pack Size:

1 Plant2 Plants

Variant

Sizes are approximate. Height is measured from the bottom of the pot to the top of the plant; diameter at the widest point.

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Care at a glance

Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii'

Light

Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux

Watering

Water when ~10–20% dry

Substrate

Moisture-retentive but aerated • Evenly moist • Organic-leaning • Fine-medium

Temperature

Ideal: 18–24 °C • Avoid below: 10 °C

Humidity

Elevated 50–60%

Growth habit

Arching clumping terrestrial fern.

Support

not needed

Growth speed

High

Cultivated size guide

Height: 30 cm • Spread: 30 cm

Toxicity & safety

Non-toxic

Origin & habitat

Cultivar of Nephrolepis cordifolia; species native from tropical Asia to the Pacific and parts of Africa

Outdoor growing

Outside from 12 °C · sheltered from wind

How to read these values

These care values give practical guidance for growing the plant. Adjust care for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.

For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.

Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.

Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
Growth speed: expected pace under suitable growing conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.

Cultivated size guide: approximate dimensions for an established plant in the stated growing context. Height is measured upwards from the growing surface; foliage height excludes flower stems. Trailing length follows a stem, while foliage drop is the vertical distance from the crown to the lowest leaf tips. Spread is the width of the leafy plant or crown, not an individual leaf. Flowering height includes the flower stems. A container guide applies to pot-grown plants; an in-ground guide applies to plants rooted in the ground. Size also depends on age, conditions, pot space and training.

These figures do not describe the size supplied and are not fixed upper limits.

Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.

Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii'

Along each slim frond, the leaflets sit close together in tidy rows and remain noticeably round. The fronds rise through the crown, then lean gently over the rim as they lengthen.

Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii' stays compact as new growth fills the centre. Thin runners can travel across the potting surface and form young plants where they root.

Key traits of Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii'

A compact clump for shelves, desks and small planters
Tiny rounded leaflets with a smooth green surface
Short, slender fronds with a gentle arch
Fine runners that can develop into young plants after rooting

Origin & background

Where wild relatives of Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii' grow naturally

Nephrolepis ferns come from warm, humid tropical and subtropical regions. In nature, they grow on forest floors, between rocks and sometimes on tree trunks.

Plant care

Indoor care for Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii'

Light: Bright, filtered light keeps the short fronds neat. A little morning sun is fine. Soften strong midday sun with a light curtain.
Warmth and humidity: For steady growth, hold temperatures near 18–24 °C and protect the plant from prolonged conditions under 10 °C. Keep the air at about 50–60% relative humidity. Pair this with light air movement around the leaves.
Watering a small pot: The compact root ball can dry quickly. Check the surface regularly. Water thoroughly when it starts to dry but the mix below is still slightly moist, then let the pot drain before returning it to the outer pot.
Potting mix: Combine peat-free compost, perlite and fine bark to make a loose mix that holds some moisture. Use a container with drainage holes.
Feeding: Use a light balanced feed while new fronds are forming, then reduce feeding when growth slows. Check the potting mix and use plain water for routine watering between feeds.
Repotting and division: Move the fern to a pot one size larger when roots fill the current pot. If the potting mix becomes compact before the root system fills the container, replace it and keep using the same pot. Each division should have healthy roots and several green fronds.
Runners and pruning: Separate rooted young ferns from the runners and plant them individually. Cut dry fronds off where they meet the crown, using clean scissors.

Issues & solutions

Problems and fixes for Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii'

Yellow, limp fronds while the potting mix stays wet: Dense potting mix or poor drainage can damage the roots. Take the fern out of its pot. Use clean scissors to remove every root that feels soft or collapses under gentle pressure. Once only firm roots remain, discard the damaged material and replant in fresh, loose potting mix.
Crisp edges or sudden leaflet loss: Feel the potting mix first. If the root ball is dry, water it thoroughly and let the pot drain. If the mix is moist, move the fern away from radiators or hot air and raise the room humidity. A pale deposit around the pot rim, especially after regular feeding, can signal built-up salts. Rinse the root ball thoroughly with plain water and stop feeding for now.
Soft tissue in the centre or spreading wet patches: Water or dead material trapped in the crown can cause rot. Remove every soft area with a clean tool until the remaining crown feels firm. Dispose of the cut material and clear loose debris from the centre. Water at the base from then on.
Fine webbing, tiny pale dots, cottony patches or small brown shells: Spider mites, mealybugs or scale insects may be present. Move the fern away from nearby houseplants, wash off visible pests and identify the insect or mite. Choose a treatment labelled for the identified pest and suitable for indoor ferns. Follow the dose and timing on the label.

Safety

Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’ is non-toxic to cats and dogs

This plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Its effects on people are unclear, so keep it away from young children who may chew it.
Eating a large amount can still cause an upset stomach. Seek medical or veterinary advice if symptoms continue.

Names & etymology

What does Nephrolepis cordifolia mean, and who first published it?

Greek nephros, kidney, and lepis, scale, form Nephrolepis and refer to the small kidney-shaped coverings over the spore-bearing patches. Cordifolia means heart-leaved.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Nephrolepis in 1834 in Genera Filicum (Vienna), plate 3.

Carl Linnaeus first described it as Polypodium cordifolium in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 1089. Carl Bořivoj Presl later placed it in Nephrolepis as Nephrolepis cordifolia in 1836 in Tentamen Pteridographiae, page 79.

Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.