Blue Star Fern
Phlebodium aureum — The Easiest Fern For Low Light
Light
Low to medium — one of the most low-light-tolerant ferns. Handles fluorescent and LED office lighting well. Avoid direct sun which scorches and yellows the fronds.
Water
More forgiving of occasional dry periods than Maidenhair or Boston ferns. Avoid waterlogging — the rhizomatous root system rots in soggy soil.
Humidity
Needs high humidity. Struggles in dry, heated offices without help.
Temperature
16–24°C (60–75°F). Dislikes heat from vents and direct sun.
Difficulty
Easy
Sizes
Tabletop · Mid-floor · Floor specimen
Phlebodium aureum, commonly known as blue star fern, has arching, deeply lobed, blue-grey fronds that grow from a fuzzy, golden-brown rhizome creeping along the soil surface. Fronds reach 30–50cm and unfurl continuously as new fiddleheads from the rhizome tips. The blue-grey colouring sets it apart from typical bright-green office ferns.
In the Office
This is one of the most low-light-tolerant ferns available, and it handles fluorescent and LED office lighting well, making it a genuinely practical choice for interior rooms without windows. It's also more forgiving of an occasional missed watering than most ferns. Avoid direct sun, which scorches and yellows the fronds.
Why Choose This Plant
Benefits for Your Office
- One of the most low-light-tolerant ferns, suited to interior rooms without natural light
- Handles fluorescent and LED lighting well, unlike many ferns that need daylight
- More forgiving of an occasional dry spell than most ferns
- Distinctive blue-grey colouring adds visual variety among a fleet of green-leaved plants
Where to Place It
Office Placement Ideas
- 1
Windowless interior offices and meeting rooms lit only by fluorescent or LED fixtures
- 2
Low-light corridors and hallways where brighter ferns would fail
- 3
Shelving or tabletop spots away from any direct sun, which scorches the fronds
How to Care for It
Care Tips for Office Environments
- Remove yellowed or brown fronds at the base with clean scissors, leaving healthy fronds untouched
- Keep the rhizome sitting on top of the soil — burying it causes rot
- Avoid repotting too often; this fern actually does better when slightly rootbound
- Check frond undersides for scale insects, and avoid waterlogging the soil, which rots the rhizome
Want Blue Star Fern in your office?
Our team will recommend the right variety and size for your space, deliver and install it, and keep it thriving with ongoing care.