Platycerium
Platycerium wandae
queen staghorn fern
- Latin
- Platycerium wandae
- Chinese
- 女王鹿角蕨
- Japanese
- ワンダエ
- English
- queen staghorn fern
Platycerium wandae, the queen staghorn fern, is the largest species in the genus, native to lowland rainforest in New Guinea. Its shield fronds can span two metres with deeply cut tops and a distinctive frill of lacerated tissue around the bud; the broad fertile fronds hang beneath. It never pups, so every plant is spore-grown, and mature specimens are collection centrepieces.
Care notes
Native habitat
Platycerium wandae is an epiphyte of hot, humid lowland rainforest in New Guinea, with no marked dry season. It grows high on large trunks, where the huge shields trap leaf litter and the mature plant becomes a heavy, self-composting basket.
Light
Bright, filtered light. Young plants tolerate shade; adults need more light before they will produce fertile fronds. Avoid midday sun behind glass, since scorch on a shield leaves a permanent brown scar, but morning sun is welcome.
Water and humidity
It likes moisture but not stagnant air. Soak when the surface of the medium dries; mature shields hold water, so large plants need watering less often than small ones. Humidity of 60–80% is ideal; below 50% the shield edges crack and brown. Keep air moving.
Medium and mounting
Temperature and seasons (temperate, indoor)
Ideal range 22–32 °C. In temperate climates it is an indoor or conservatory plant year-round. Hold it above 12 °C; below 10 °C the shields and growing point are damaged. In winter reduce watering, keep the light as high as possible and run a fan. Central heating dries the air; a humidifier helps more than misting.
Common problems
- Cracked, dry shield edges: low humidity or sun scorch.
- No fertile fronds for years: normal; wandae must reach considerable size first.
- Confused with P. grande or P. holttumii: look for the frilled, lacerated tissue around the bud, unique to wandae. Juveniles are nearly impossible to separate.
- Black patches on the back of the shield: standing water or scale.
Collector notes
Frond expression. Depth and number of lobes at the top of the shield, how developed the frill around the bud is, and the width and forking of the fertile fronds. In Taiwan wandae is one of the most widely grown species, yet plants raised to a full, symmetrical crown remain uncommon.
Mother plant. Look for left-right symmetry of the shields, a clearly defined frill, and broad fertile fronds hanging evenly.
FAQ
How do I tell Platycerium wandae from P. grande and P. holttumii?
On mature plants look at the bud: wandae has a frill of lacerated tissue around the growing point that the other two lack. Grande carries two spore patches per fertile frond; holttumii has shorter shield lobes and thicker fertile fronds. Juveniles are near-identical, so provenance is the only guide.
Does Platycerium wandae produce pups?
No. Like grande, superbum and holttumii, wandae grows as a single crown and cannot be divided. Every plant in trade was raised from spores or tissue culture, which is why large specimens cost what they do: each one was grown from a sporeling over many years.
Is Platycerium wandae good for beginners?
Juveniles are easy, shade-tolerant and inexpensive, so it is often sold as a starter. The catch is size: it grows large and heavy, needs a big board and a strong wall fixing from the start, and takes years to produce fertile fronds. Good for a patient grower with room.
How big does Platycerium wandae get?
In the wild shield fronds can span two metres; in cultivation a metre across is typical for a mature plant, weighing well over ten kilograms when wet. It is the largest species in the genus, so check the wall fixing before you hang it.
How do I overwinter Platycerium wandae?
Keep it above 12 °C, ideally warmer, in the brightest spot you have. Below 10 °C the shields and bud are damaged. Water less, run a fan so the medium dries between soakings, and use a humidifier against central-heating air. Do not move a large plant more than necessary.