Hanging Basket 10" Boston Fern

Boston Fern Hanging Basket, 10 in

Boston fern is a common ornamental plant frequently grown as a houseplant in cold climates. The species Nephrolepis exaltata is a tropical species of sword fern (in the family Lomariopsidaceae), native to humid forests from northern South America through Mexico, in Florida and the West Indies where it can grow up to 7 feet tall. The plant called Boston fern – N. exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’ – is a natural variant of the species that was discovered in a large shipment of ferns sent from Philadelphia to Boston in 1894. This evergreen fern is hardy in zones 9-11, so can be grown outdoors in very mild climates but it adapts readily to container culture for use indoors or seasonally outdoors in other parts of the world.

Use Boston fern indoors as a houseplant or as a seasonal accent plant outside once all danger of frost is past. These plants are ideal in hanging baskets, in raised containers, or on plant stands, so their long fronds can provide a dramatic arching fountain of foliage. They can also be grown in the ground as somewhat upright accents among low annuals such as impatiens or begonias, combined with shade-loving coleus, browallia, caladium and torenia, or as a tall tropical-looking ground cover. Combine potted Boston fern and other containers with colorful flowering annuals on decks or patios.