Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’ frond detail with slightly wavy narrow green leaflets

Small Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’ fern with bright-green arching fronds in a nursery pot

Small potted Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’ with finely divided upright and arching foliage

Close-up of Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’ showing fine leaflets along a fern frond

Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’ small fern showing dense bright-green fronds

Small Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’ with compact, finely divided green fronds

Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’ foliage detail showing finely divided arching fronds

Medium Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’ with dense, finely divided green fronds

Medium potted Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’ showing upright centre fronds and arching outer fronds

Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’ medium fern with a dense fountain-shaped crown of fronds

Medium Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’ with full arching bright-green fronds in a nursery pot

Close-up of dense Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’ foliage with overlapping green fronds

Large Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’ with dense upright and arching green fronds

Large Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’ with a broad fountain of arching green fronds in a nursery pot

Large potted Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’ showing a full crown of finely divided foliage

Nephrolepidaceae

Nephrolepis exaltata 'Green Lady'

Boston Fern

5 for 4Pet Friendly

Nephrolepis exaltata 'Green Lady' has upright central fronds and broadly arching outer fronds, forming an open fountain of bright-green foliage. Narrow leaflets have a slight wave along their margins.

Read full guide to Nephrolepis exaltata 'Green Lady'

€9,75

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Choose a size

S Pot Ø 9 cm · approx. 15 cm tall Sold outM Pot Ø 12 cm · approx. 30 cm tall L Pot Ø 17 cm · approx. 35 cm tall

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 exaltata 'Green Lady'

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: 75 cm • Spread: 100 cm

Toxicity & safety

Non-toxic

Origin & habitat

Cultivar of Nephrolepis exaltata; species native to tropical and subtropical America

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 exaltata 'Green Lady'

Long fronds grow upright from the centre of Nephrolepis exaltata 'Green Lady' before arching outward. As the outer fronds spread, the plant develops an open fountain shape.

The narrow leaflets have a slight wave, giving each frond a soft outline. Pale coils turn bright green as they open, and fine runners may eventually extend beyond the container.

Open growth and frond shape of Nephrolepis exaltata 'Green Lady'

Upright central fronds with outer foliage that spreads broadly
Long, narrow fronds in bright green
Narrow leaflets with a slight wave
Suitable for floor pots, stands and roomy baskets
Fine runners that can develop young plants beyond the crown

Origin & background

Cultivated form and natural range of Nephrolepis exaltata 'Green Lady'

‘Green Lady’ is a cultivated Boston fern form of Nephrolepis exaltata.

In the American tropics and subtropics, Nephrolepis exaltata grows in moist woodland, swamps and floodplains. It may grow in the ground or on trees and palms.

Plant care

Looking after Nephrolepis exaltata 'Green Lady' indoors

Space, stability and light: Choose a stable pot or basket with room for the fronds to spread. Bright, filtered light helps the centre stay upright and full. Turn the container occasionally for even growth.
Warmth and humidity: Keep temperatures around 18–24 °C and avoid prolonged temperatures below 10 °C. Aim for 50–60% humidity to help limit dry tips and leaflet loss. Keep the fern clear of cold draughts and hot air blowing directly across it.
Watering a larger pot: Moisture can vary across a wide container, so test the mix in several places. When the surface starts to dry, add water in stages until the potting mix is evenly moist, then empty any water collected in the saucer or outer pot.
Potting mix and drainage: Use a pot with drainage holes and a mix of peat-free compost, perlite and fine bark. This mix helps the wide root ball stay evenly moist while excess water drains away.
Feeding: Feed lightly with a balanced liquid fertiliser while fresh fronds are opening. Pause feeding when frond production slows. Use plain water for normal watering between feeds. Resume feeding when fresh fronds begin opening again.
Repotting: Choose a larger container when roots crowd the pot or push the crown upward. When the root system still fits but the mix has compacted, change the mix and return the plant to the same pot.
Propagation: Divide mature, well-rooted clumps, keeping roots and fronds on each section, or pot rooted runners separately.
Grooming: Keep the spreading foliage clear of walkways and remove completely dry fronds close to the base. Leave green central coils in place.

Issues & solutions

Help with problems affecting Nephrolepis exaltata 'Green Lady'

The clump becomes sparse or strongly one-sided: Too little light, or light reaching the plant from only one direction, can weaken new growth. In a dim room, move the plant towards a brighter window and use a light curtain to soften direct sun. If light reaches mainly one side, turn the pot regularly as new fronds develop.
Drooping fronds or widespread brown tips: Check the root ball in several places. If it feels light and dry, water slowly in several passes until the entire mix is moist, then let it drain. If the mix is already moist, move the fern away from heated airflow and check the humidity. White deposits or repeated strong feeding may point to salt build-up; flush only when water drains freely. Persistent decline calls for a root check.
Several fronds yellow while the mix remains damp: Dense potting mix or rot may be damaging the roots. Slide out the root ball and use clean scissors to remove roots that feel spongy, break apart easily or smell sour. Once the remaining roots feel firm, dispose of the damaged roots and old mix. Repot the fern in fresh, loose potting mix.
Sticky residue, pale speckles, white cotton or shell-like bumps: Mealybugs, scale insects or spider mites may be present. Move the fern away from nearby houseplants and wash the fronds gently. Identify the pest, then choose a treatment labelled for that pest and suitable for indoor ferns. Follow the dose and timing on the label.

Safety

Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’ 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

When was Nephrolepis exaltata first published, and what does it mean?

Greek nephros, kidney, and lepis, scale, form Nephrolepis and refer to the small kidney-shaped coverings over the spore-bearing patches. Exaltata means elevated or very tall.

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

Carl Linnaeus first described it as Polypodium exaltatum in 1759 in Systema Naturae, tenth edition, volume 2, page 1326. Heinrich Wilhelm Schott later placed it in Nephrolepis as Nephrolepis exaltata in 1834 in Genera Filicum (Vienna), plate 3.

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.

Nephrolepis exaltata 'Green Lady'

€9,75