How to Grow Squirrel's Foot Fern
iNaturalist
Squirrel's Foot Fern
Davallia trichomanoides
fernSquirrel's Foot Fern is an evergreen epiphytic fern native to Southeast Asia, named for its distinctive fuzzy, furry rhizomes that creep along the soil surface and resemble a squirrel's foot. It features delicate, feathery fronds that grow in a cascading or mounding form, making it ideal for hanging baskets and mounted displays. This tropical fern thrives in humid, warm conditions and is popular as an ornamental houseplant.
When should you plant Squirrel's Foot Fern in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Squirrel's Foot Fern timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Squirrel's Foot Fern
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Squirrel's Foot Fern
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Squirrel's Foot Fern dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 10b-11; primarily grown indoors in most climates
Sign up free to see if Squirrel's Foot Fern grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Squirrel's Foot Fern timeline →Growth Stages
Establishment
2-4 weeksYoung plant with minimal fronds and small, pale rhizomes
Maintain high humidity and consistent moisture. Avoid fertilizing for first 4-6 weeks. Ensure excellent drainage to prevent rot.
Vegetative Growth
3-9 monthsFronds expand; fuzzy rhizomes become more visible and begin creeping along the soil surface
Increase humidity by misting 2-3 times weekly or using a humidifier. Apply diluted liquid fertilizer monthly. Provide bright, filtered light.
Mature Growth
OngoingLush, full cascading fronds; furry rhizomes distinctly visible and prominent; plant may cascade 12-18 inches
Maintain consistent care routine. Trim dead or yellowing fronds. Continue regular misting. Fertilize every 4-6 weeks during growing season (spring-summer).
Dormancy
Late fall to early winterMinimal new growth; fronds may appear duller or less vigorous
Reduce watering frequency slightly but never allow soil to dry completely. Lower fertilizer frequency to every 8-12 weeks. Maintain humidity even if growth slows.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Increase humidity to 70%+; mist fronds regularly. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil if infestation occurs. Isolate plant from others.
-
Inspect rhizomes and frond bases frequently. Remove with cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly for 3-4 weeks.
-
Inspect regularly, especially on rhizomes. Remove manually with a soft brush. Treat with horticultural oil or neem oil spray.
-
Allow top inch of soil to dry between waterings slightly. Use yellow sticky traps. Apply neem oil drench to soil if needed.
-
Ensure excellent drainage and do not overwater. Repot in fresh, sterile fern mix if roots are mushy. Remove affected plant parts with sterile tools.
Uses
Decorative Indoor Plant & Air Purification
HouseholdSquirrel's Foot Fern's cascading fronds and fuzzy rhizomes make it a striking hanging basket or mounted specimen plant for indoor spaces. Like other ferns, it helps filter and humidify air, improving indoor air quality in humid environments. [source]
Epiphytic Display & Terrarium Design
CraftIts natural epiphytic growth habit makes it ideal for mounting on cork bark, creating living wall displays, or incorporating into botanical terrariums and vivariums. The unique furry rhizomes add visual and tactile interest to living arrangements. [source]
Humid Microhabitat for Tropical Creatures
WildlifeIn tropical terrariums or vivariums, this fern creates shelter and maintains humidity for small reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates, supporting a biodiverse microhabitat. [source]
Humidity Indicator Plant
HouseholdThe plant's health and vigor directly reflect ambient humidity levels; browning frond tips or slow growth typically indicate air is too dry, making it a useful bioindicator for home humidity conditions. [source]
Harvest Tips
Not typically harvested; grown for ornamental foliage. Dead or yellowing fronds can be trimmed with clean scissors. Spores (if visible on underside of fronds) can be collected for propagation, though this is advanced and typically unnecessary for home growers.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 The 'squirrel's foot' rhizomes are actually creeping stems covered in fuzzy scales (ramenta) that help the fern anchor to tree bark in its native rainforest epiphytic habitat, mimicking the appearance of an animal's foot.
- 🌱 Davallia species are among the most reliable and beginner-friendly tropical ferns for indoor cultivation, yet they remain less common than maidenhair or Boston ferns in the houseplant trade.
- 🌱 This fern reproduces via spores produced on the undersides of fronds, which are released into the air—a method unchanged for over 300 million years since ferns first evolved.
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Squirrel's Foot Fern planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Squirrel's Foot Fern seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Squirrel's Foot Fern timeline →