Elephant Ear Water Fern Plant Care
Salvinia auriculata Aubl.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Salvinia auriculata is a species of plant in the Salviniaceae known by the common names eared watermoss, African payal, and butterfly fern. It is native to the Americas from Mexico south to Argentina and Chile.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Elephant Ear Water Fern?
Elephant Ear Water Fern grows best in full sun to partial shade.
Where Is the Elephant Ear Water Fern Native To?
What Is the Elephant Ear Water Fern?
Elephant Ear Water Fern (Salvinia auriculata) belongs to the Salviniaceae family within the Salvinia genus. Elephant Ear Water Fern is native to the Americas from Mexico south to Argentina and Chile. Elephant Ear Water Fern is also known as Water Spangles.
Elephant Ear Water Fern displays a floating aquatic fern growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Elephant Ear Water Fern produces tiny, inconspicuous, greenish-brown.
What Light Does the Elephant Ear Water Fern Need?
Elephant Ear Water Fern thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Elephant Ear Water Fern?
Nutrient-rich, muddy soil or aquatic environments. Good drainage is essential for Elephant Ear Water Fern to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Elephant Ear Water Fern?
Does not require traditional potting, thrives in water. 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 Elephant Ear Water Fern?
Elephant Ear Water Fern can be propagated through spores, division. Similar propagation techniques also apply to water spangles plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Elephant Ear Water Fern Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Elephant Ear Water 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 Elephant Ear Water Fern?
Elephant Ear Water Fern is susceptible to generally pest-free. 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
Elephant Ear Water 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 Salvinia genus — compare its care with other Salvinia species on PlantoScan.
Salvinia is part of the Salviniaceae plant family — browse all Salviniaceae genera and species.
Elephant Ear Water Fern thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Salvinia auriculata Aubl., family Salviniaceae (first published in Hist. Pl. Guiane 2. 969 t. 367. 1775. Bak. Hdb (1775)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Elephant Ear Water 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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