10 Spectacular Ferns You'll Want to Add to Your Houseplant Collection

Boston Fern

Lush, textured arches are this fern's signature, and they can grow quite large in their pots. Boston ferns love a humid environment and need consistently moist soil. You'll know if it's not getting enough water because its leave gets crispy and crunchy. Keep it away from any heating or air vent, as it's too drying for them.

Kimberly Queen Fern

With its dark green fronds, the Kimberly Queen fern looks very similar to the Boston fern. This variety does very well outside, planted in the ground or in larger pots or containers. It does need to be moved indoors once cooler temperatures set in. It prefers a shady spot indoors but can tolerate medium light if properly watered and in a more humid environment.

Maidenhair Fern

So delicate and beautiful, the Maidenhair Fern's stems and leaves feel much more fragile than other types of indoor ferns—and they totally are. This might be one of the more temperamental varieties of ferns.

It needs just the right amount of everything. It can't handle direct sunlight but needs enough indirect light to thrive. It also needs to be regularly misted or kept in a humid room like a bathroom and doesn't thrive in temps below 60 F. But if you can provide the right environment, this fern will reward you with an elegant, leafy display.

Bird's Nest Fern

Less romantic and leafy than its counterparts, the bird's nest fern is relatively easy to grow and maintain. Consider it a starter fern! It needs bright, indirect light and should be watered every one to two weeks. You'll know when to water because the leaves will droop and look sad. More great news? They're non-toxic and safe for homes with pets.

Staghorn Fern

You might recognize this beauty because it looks really pretty mounted on a wooden board, so it's a popular choice for vertical wall gardens. This variety does well in bright, indirect sunlight but can be a little testy regarding water. Too much or too little will kill it.

Depending on the room's humidity, it could need water once a week (dry) to once every two to three weeks (more humid). If you start to notice browning at the base, you're overwatering, but if the tips get brown, you're underwatering.

Rabbit's Foot Fern

These little beauties are considered easy to care for in the fern world. Like the other varieties, rabbit's foot ferns thrive with plenty of moisture and medium to bright, indirect sunlight. Keep them in a warm, humid environment like a bathroom, or mist them fairly regularly.

Asparagus Fern

Delightfully fluffy and delicate, the asparagus fern almost looks like an herb! However, watch out for its sharp thorns. It's also not a true fern since it spreads by seed instead of spores. The least fussy of the ferns on this list, it thrives in bright light and can handle a missed watering every now and again. Just beware, this plant is extremely toxic to dogs and cats and should be kept away from them.

Tricolor Fern

Relative to other fern varieties, the tricolor fern is shiny and colorful, with large fronds that range from bronze to red to green. As long as you keep its soil moist (but not waterlogged), this type of fern can thrive in bright sunlight. They are happiest when the temperature is between 70 F and 80 F.

Kangaroo Fern

Surprise, surprise: The kangaroo fern is a native of Australia and New Zealand. Its glossy, leathery fronds (shaped like kangaroo paws) would look right at home in a rain forest. They thrive in indirect, moderate light and at a temperature between 65 F and 75 F. This type of fern needs regular watering and frond misting.

Button Fern

The low-maintenance button fern hails from New Zealand. It's also called the round-leafed fern because of its shiny, button-like leaves along the length of its fronds. Dappled, indirect sunlight is best for this type of fern. Water lightly but frequently. They appreciate constant misting or a humidifier to keep them moist.