Hemionitis rotundifolia

Common Names

Button Fern, Green Cliff Brake, Cliff Brake, Cliff Break

Summary

Button Fern, also called Roundleaf Fern, is a compact evergreen fern native to Australia and New Zealand, forming a low, dense clump with arching fronds and small, round, leathery leaflets on dark reddish-brown stems that age to red, reaching about 6–12 inches tall and wide, and reproducing by spores.

Culture favors bright indirect light with protection from harsh direct sun, well-draining acidic soil kept evenly moist (never soggy), and moderate to high humidity at temperatures around 60–75°F (15–24°C); outdoors in partial shade or indoors as a houseplant, it suits containers, hanging baskets, terrariums, rock gardens, and shaded patios, and it is hardy in zones 9–11 with propagation by division or spores.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-12 inches

Spread

6-12 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 9-11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil.

Soil pH

Acidic, pH < 6.0

Bloom Time

Does not bloom

Foliage Color

Deep green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow-growing; 5–8 years to reach ultimate height

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Spores, Division, Root cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts no wildlife