Microsorum pustulatum

Common Name:
Kangaroo Fern

Description:
Microsorum pustulatum, commonly known as the Kangaroo Fern, is a hardy and versatile Australian native fern prized for its rich green, leathery fronds with an attractive glossy finish. Its unique, slightly lobed foliage adds texture and depth to shaded garden spaces or indoor plant collections. Naturally epiphytic or terrestrial, this fern is commonly found growing on tree trunks, rocks, and forest floors, adapting well to both soil and mounted environments. In Melbourne, the Kangaroo Fern performs best in sheltered, humid locations with filtered light or full shade. It appreciates moist, well-draining soil and regular watering, though it can tolerate short dry periods once established. This evergreen fern is excellent for underplanting in shaded garden beds, growing in pots, or adding lush greenery to vertical displays and green walls. Its low-maintenance nature and native provenance make it a favourite for naturalistic and tropical-inspired plantings.

Form:
Shrub - Clumping / Grass-like / Mounding

Mature Size:
Height: 30–60 cm
Width: 60–90 cm

Aspect:
Part Shade
Full Shade
Indoors / Well lit

Flowering:
Does not flower

Flower Colour:
Does not flower

Key Attributes:
Australian native
Suitable for Pots
Indoors / Well lit
Perennial
Herbaceous
Low Maintenance
Epiphytic

Toxicity:
Non-toxic to humans and animals

Companion Plants:
Doodia aspera
Asplenium australasicum (Bird’s Nest Fern)
Blechnum nudum (Fishbone Water Fern)
Todea barbara (King Fern)
Pellaea falcata (Sickle Fern)