Ferns That Look Like Starfishes

Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum)

• The Maidenhair fern is a small to medium sized Australian native that has delicate tendrils arranged in a seemingly random spiral array. While they can grow from 12 to 18 inches tall, the cumulative effect seen from above conveys the distinctive spread of a starfish. This fern's native habitat is rich woodland, often on limestone soil. Because of this, you may need to raise the plant in a high pH environment for it to thrive.

Nephrolepis Exaltata Ferns

• Many of the mutant variants of the Nephrolepis exaltata ferns resemble starfish. The Verona Lace fern, for example, has wispy tendrils and tapered fronds that look like the arms of a starfish. The "Fluffy Ruffles" mutation creates random triangular wedges that look like the waving limbs of a brittle star. The "Teddy Junior" variant has broader fronds with a similar architecture. These plants all prefer well-shaded environments, but each mutant has a different range of cold tolerance.

Fijian Hare's Foot Fern (Davallia fejeensis)

• The Fijian Hare's Foot fern has whisker-like fronds that grow in broad varied leaves from 1 to 4 feet across. As a whole, a colony of these ferns resembles either multilegged starfish or clusters of the same. Like most ferns, they require low levels of water and semishaded environments. They are cold resistant to approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit and thrive in slightly acidic soils. They grow well in both indoor and outdoor environments.

Sea Star and Umbrella Ferns (Sticherus flabellatus)

• Both the Sea Star and Umbrella ferns have a splayed arrangement that forms an almost perfectly circular arrangement of fronds. The thin, tapered elements create a feathery sprawl that resembles their namesake. These ferns are unique in that they rest on a tall, slender rigid central stalk. Both of these plants are natives to Australia and New Zealand. They thrive as outdoor plants in cool climates as long as they are kept out of direct sunlight.