Davallia Repens
Plant Profile
Davallia repens, commonly known as the Creeping Rabbit's Foot Fern, is an epiphytic woodland fern that lives perched on bark and stones rather than buried in mud or sunk underwater. Strapped onto damp spiderwood branches or tucked into rock joints, its fuzzy, scaly rhizomes crawl outward and unfurl triangular, lacy green fronds that soften harsh hardscape seams. In wild tropical canopies, those hairy creeping rhizomes act like sponges, soaking up mist droplets and atmospheric moisture during cloudbursts so the plant can survive dry spells between rains.
Key Features & Notes
- Fuzzy, scaly rhizomes creep across hardscape to anchor naturally without needing soil.
- Triangular lacy green fronds provide an airy canopy texture across rockwork and wood.
- Thrives when mounted above the waterline in humid vivarium plants and paludarium setups.
Care & Planting Instructions
- Mount the furry rhizome onto rough driftwood, cork bark, or porous stone using cotton thread or plant-safe glue with a thin pad of damp sphagnum moss; never bury the creeping rhizome under soil, as burying it will rot the plant.
- Provide low to medium indirect light or filtered shade; direct sun or intense grow lights will scorch the delicate pinnae and turn the fronds crispy.
- Maintain humidity above 75% and keep the mounting media damp, but provide gentle airflow and avoid letting heavy water droplets puddle on the leaves for long periods.
- Snip older, yellowing fronds close to the creeping rhizome using clean shears to stimulate fresh fiddleheads and maintain plant vigor.
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Note that this plant is shipped bare root, and each order includes an active cutting with 2 to 4 leaves ready to establish.
- Davallia repens are terrestrial plants, and being submerged will result in the death of the plants.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Davallia repens (syn. Humata repens) |
| Common Name(s) | Creeping Rabbit's Foot Fern, Dwarf Rabbit's Foot |
| Family | Davalliaceae |
| Plant Type | Epiphytic / Lithophytic Creeping Fern |
| Care Difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
| Light Requirement | Low to Medium Indirect Light (Partial Shade) |
| Submersion Suitability | Emersed Only (Not for full submersion) |
| Placement / Usage | Epiphyte Mounts, Driftwood Branches, Rock Crevices, Background Walls |
| Height / Size | Fronds 2"–4" (5–10 cm); rhizome creeps indefinitely |
| Growth Rate | Slow to Moderate |
| Humidity Requirement | High (> 70% RH) |
| Propagation Method | Rhizome Division |
| Origin | Tropical Asia, Africa, and Pacific Islands |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can Davallia repens grow submerged in an aquarium?
No. Davallia repens is strictly an epiphytic land fern. Submerging the foliage or rhizomes underwater cuts off gas exchange and will cause the plant to turn translucent and rot within days.
2. Can I plant the rhizome of Davallia repens into potting soil?
No. Burying the furry rhizome under damp soil suffocates the growth points and leads directly to rhizome rot. Instead, fasten it on top of wood or rock with a thin layer of damp sphagnum moss.
3. Why are the fronds on my Creeping Rabbit's Foot Fern turning brown or crispy?
Crispy or curling fronds indicate low ambient humidity or excess direct lighting. Keep the enclosure sealed to hold humidity above 70% and move the fern out of hot lighting hotspots.