Japanese Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium antiquum 'Japanese Bird's Nest')
Asplenium antiquum 'Japanese Bird's Nest'

Evergreen Perennial (usually grown as an annual near you) Rosette, upright fronds in the Aspleniaceae Family
 
Buy Japanese Bird's Nest Fern
Size Notes Price Availability
Tray of 6 6" pots Greenhouse $103.95 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4

A Japanese relative of the classic Bird's Nest Fern, with the same nest-shaped rosette of glossy fronds and a bit more cold tolerance.

Despite its Full_Name in this database, the plant sold under "Japanese Bird's Nest Fern" is not actually a cultivar of Asplenium nidus — it's the closely related but distinct species Asplenium antiquum, native to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and southeastern China (hence the common name). It shares the same nest-shaped rosette growth habit as its more tropical cousin, but its fronds are a uniform width along their length, where A. nidus's fronds noticeably widen toward the middle — the easiest way to tell the two apart at a glance.

Coming from a more temperate part of Asia than A. nidus's Southeast Asian/Pacific range, this species tolerates slightly cooler conditions, though it's still far too tender for outdoor winters in the Chicago area and is grown here strictly as a houseplant.

Pros

  • Bold rosette of glossy, uniformly-wide fronds, distinct from the species type
  • Slightly more cold-tolerant outdoors than common Bird's Nest Fern
  • Non-toxic to pets
  • Low-light tolerant indoor accent plant

Cons

  • Needs consistently moist soil and high humidity to thrive
  • Still has no frost tolerance outside USDA zones 9-10
  • Fronds are delicate and can tear if handled roughly
  • Slow to build a full, mature rosette
This plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live.
Highlights The easiest way to tell this species apart from the more common Asplenium nidus is frond shape: this one's fronds stay a uniform width from base to tip, while A. nidus's fronds visibly widen toward the middle. Native to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and southeastern China, it hails from a cooler part of Asia than most Bird's Nest Ferns in cultivation, which shows up as a bit more outdoor cold tolerance (zones 9-10 vs. 11-12).
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 36 inches tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Shade
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Needs consistently moist soil and high ambient humidity; does not tolerate drying out between waterings or the dry air of a typical heated home in winter without supplemental humidity. At the same time, avoid waterlogged, poorly-drained soil — the goal is evenly moist, never soggy.
Zones 9a - 10b (Usually hardy to 20° F)
Tags Annual in Chicago, Deer Resistant, Evergreen, Full Shade, Good Indoor Plant, Grown For Attractive Foliage, House Plants, Medium, Native to Asia, Non-Allergenic, Partial Shade, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Slow Growth Rate, Tender Perennial, Thrillers, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period Non-flowering
Flower Color Non-flowering
Foliage Color
 

In The News

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with other tropical foliage houseplants that share its preference for bright, indirect light and high humidity — pothos, philodendron, calathea, and finer-textured ferns that contrast against its broad, glossy fronds.
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 10/04
2024 : 02/08 - 10/05
2023 : 03/02 - 07/08

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!