Lemon Button Fern Plant Care

Lemon Button Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia) belongs to the Nephrolepidaceae family within the Nephrolepis genus. Lemon Button Fern is native to the global tropics, including northeastern Australia and Asia. Lemon Button Fern is also known as Tuber Ladder Fern, Fishbone Fern, Sword Fern.

Lemon Button Fern displays a lush, spreading fern growth habit, reaching up to 2.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Lemon Button Fern produces non-flowering.

Leaf size: approximately 24 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Lemon Button Fern every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Lemon Button Fern thrives in bright indirect to low light. Avoid placing Lemon Button Fern in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.

Nephrolepis cordifolia tolerates temperatures of 60–75°F. Lemon Button Fern prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Rich, well-draining potting mix with peat moss and perlite. Good drainage is essential for Lemon Button Fern to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Lemon Button Fern every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with bright indirect to low light and rich, well-draining potting mix with peat moss and perlite. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Lemon Button Fern is suited to USDA Zone 8b – 11b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Lemon Button Fern can spread to about 3 ft (0.9 m) and reach about 3 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 3 ft (0.9 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Lemon Button Fern while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Lemon Button Fern is hardy down to USDA zone 8b, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Lemon Button Fern can be propagated through division, spores. Similar propagation techniques also apply to boston fern plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Lemon Button Fern is susceptible to spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects. 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.

Lemon Button Fern grows outdoors in USDA Zone 8b – 11b. It survives winters down to planting zone 8b. Lemon Button Fern is native to the global tropics, including northeastern Australia and Asia.