Microsorum diversifolium - Kangaroo fern

Microsorum diversifolium, also known as Kangaroo Fern, is a tropical fern with glossy and deeply lobed foliage, reminiscent of kangaroo paw prints. Its spreading and trailing habit makes it an excellent houseplant, easy to grow and suited to bright spaces, but without direct sunlight. It is ideal for adding a touch of architectural exoticism to a living room, bathroom, or office.

Microsorum diversifolium belongs to the Polypodiaceae family and grows wild in the humid forests of Australia and New Zealand. Like many epiphytic ferns, it thrives on tree trunks or the forest floor, where it benefits from moisture and decomposing organic matter. Its foliage consists of evergreen, leathery, and glossy fronds, measuring between 30 and 60 cm in length indoors. Their distinctive feature lies in their irregular and deeply lobed shape, with elongated and variably numerous lobes, evoking animal paw prints. Their prominent veins and lustrous, bright green surface enhance their decorative appeal. Unlike more delicate ferns, this species has robust and resilient foliage that tolerates humidity variations quite well. Its rhizomatous root system allows it to spread gradually, with grey-green rootstocks covered in russet scaly hairs. Like all ferns, it does not produce flowers but reproduces via spores located beneath its fronds.

The Kangaroo Fern pairs well with other ferns such as Asplenium nidus or Nephrolepis exaltata, as well as with broad-leaved tropical plants like Calatheas or Philodendrons, to create a lush display, or alongside other trailing plants such as Rhipsalis.