Button Fern

 Button Fern, Bellea rotundifolia: "Dark and Circle"

I was recently in the market for a houseplant to add life to my small apartment bathroom. My two requirements are: the Manhattan bathroom should be windowless and live in humid conditions and it should not be too sharp (I should not accidentally collide with it after cooling). I finally found the right solution: Button Fern. These small houseplants thrive on soft, velvety leaves and moisture. Here's what you need to know before using your own Button Fern.

Button fern, also known as round-leaved fern, is an evergreen fern (belonging to the family Pteridaceae) with small dark green leaves attached to a slender stem. "Rotundifolia" refers to the roundness of the leaves, and the genus Pallea is derived from the Greek word "dark", which means the stems turn dark red with age. Plants in the genus are sometimes referred to as "cliff breaks".

Although native to New Zealand and Australia, USDA Growing Zones 9 to 11 Button Ferns can be grown outdoors. Although they are somewhat unstable when grown indoors, with proper care and attention to its needs, a button fern makes an excellent houseplant.

Button ferns are small (they only grow 12-18 inches tall) compared to other ferns, making them excellent candidates for small spaces. Their small leaflets become oval as the plant grows.

Do not confuse the button fern with the name Lemon Button fern (Nephrolepsis cortifolia), which is a small plant that looks similar from a distance but is unrelated.

Cheatsheet

Choose a container with adequate drainage at the bottom; It is important to filter the soil efficiently between irrigations.

Its contact with moisture makes the Button Fern an excellent houseplant for guest bathing. For visual maneuvering place it on a shelf or in a window that is not too bright or in a hanging basket.

Need more Button Ferns? In the spring, disassemble your existing button fern with a sharp knife and reattach the parts.

Keep it alive

Button ferns like enough water but hate moist soil. Dry the topsoil between irrigations. If the leaves are green and do not rot, you have found the perfect happy medium.

Place your button fern in a bright or slightly shady spot, but not in direct sunlight. A sun-filled kitchen or living room is a good choice.

Be sure to keep your Button Fern in a humid environment (at 50 percent humidity). In winter, when the fireplace is hot and the fire is drying the house, be sure to occasionally fog the leaves, especially when they are hanging.

It may take a while to figure out exactly what your favorite Button Fern looks like, but stick with it: once adjusted, it is much easier to maintain the houseplant. I will buy one to sit on the edge of my bath.