Light
Medium indirect • approx. 5,000–10,000 lux






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Quick Care Guide
Light
Medium indirect • approx. 5,000–10,000 lux
Watering
Water when ~10–25% dry
Substrate
Extra-airy • Fast-draining • Bark-heavy • Chunky
Temperature
Ideal: 16–24 °C • Avoid below: 16 °C
Humidity
Humid 60–80 % +
Growth habit
Creeping epiphytic fern.
Support
not needed
Growth speed
Average
Max size indoors
Max. height: 30 cm • Max. spread: 40 cm
Toxicity & safety
Non-toxic
Origin & habitat
Native from southeastern Queensland to southeastern Australia, Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island and New Zealand
Outdoor growing
Indoor only
These care values are quick reference points for indoor growing. Use them as a guide, then adjust 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.
Lecanopteris pustulata is an evergreen rhizomatous fern with creeping stems and glossy green fronds. Many mature fronds develop lobed or paw-like outlines, which explains the common name kangaroo paw fern. New fronds appear along creeping stems that travel across the pot surface.
The rhizomes spread over bark, substrate, rock or the edge of a container. Keeping those rhizomes anchored, airy and only lightly covered is the key to long-term growth.
Lecanopteris pustulata is native from south-eastern Queensland to south-eastern Australia, Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island and New Zealand. In habitat it can grow on the ground, over rocks, fallen logs, cliffs and banks, or as an epiphyte on trees. The surface-growing rhizomes need airy substrate and shallow planting.
The fronds emerge directly from the rhizomes rather than from a buried crown. A shallow pot, basket or mount lets the plant expand naturally, while dense wet substrate around the rhizomes can cause collapse before the foliage shows clear stress.
Lecanopteris pustulata is listed by NC State Extension as non-toxic for cats and dogs. It is still best kept out of chewing range, because damaged fronds and rhizomes take time to replace.
Lecanopteris pustulata (G.Forst.) Perrie & Brownsey belongs to Polypodiaceae and was published in Blumea 66(3): 246 in 2021. It is based on the basionym Polypodium pustulatum G.Forst., published in Florae Insularum Australium Prodromus 81 in 1786. Synonyms such as Microsorum pustulatum, Phymatosorus pustulatus or Zealandia pustulata may still appear in horticulture and fern references. The epithet pustulata means having pustules, referring to the raised sori on the underside of fertile fronds.
Lecanopteris pustulata spreads by creeping rhizomes and produces glossy kangaroo-paw fronds across pots, baskets or mounted surfaces.
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.