Dragon's Tail Fern Plant Care
Cephalomanes caudatum (Brack.) Bostock
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Abrodictyum caudatum is an epiphytic fern, found in rainforests in eastern Australia.
Low to medium indirect light
At a glance
How do you care for Dragon's Tail Fern?
Dragon's Tail Fern grows best in low to medium indirect light.
Where Is the Dragon's Tail Fern Native To?
What Is the Dragon's Tail Fern?
Dragon's Tail Fern (Cephalomanes caudatum) belongs to the Hymenophyllaceae family within the Cephalomanes genus. Dragon's Tail Fern is native to rainforests in eastern Australia.
Dragon's Tail Fern displays a low rosette, creeping growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Dragon's Tail Fern produces tiny inconspicuous flowers.
What Light Does the Dragon's Tail Fern Need?
Dragon's Tail Fern thrives in low to medium indirect light. Avoid placing Dragon's Tail Fern in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.
Light Requirement
Low to medium indirect light
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Dragon's Tail Fern?
Moist, well-draining soil with high organic matter content. Good drainage is essential for Dragon's Tail Fern to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Dragon's Tail Fern?
Repot every 1-2 years in spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Dragon's Tail Fern?
Dragon's Tail Fern can be propagated through spores.
Is the Dragon's Tail Fern Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Dragon's Tail Fern, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Dragon's Tail Fern?
Dragon's Tail Fern is susceptible to aphids, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Dragon's Tail Fern is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Cephalomanes genus (family Hymenophyllaceae) — search all Cephalomanes species in the plant lookup.
Dragon's Tail Fern copes with lower light than most plants — browse the full list of low-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Cephalomanes caudatum (Brack.) Bostock, family Hymenophyllaceae (first published in Fl. Australia 48: 706 (1998)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Dragon's Tail Fern, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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