Whisk Fern
Psilotum nudum
- Native to:
- Andaman Is., Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Caroline Is., Cayman Is., Central American Pacific Is., Chagos Archipelago, China, Christmas I., Colombia, Comoros, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, Galápagos, Ghana, Gilbert Is., Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Japan, Kazan-retto, Kenya, Kermadec Is., Korea, Laos, Leeward Is., Lesotho, Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Line Is., Madagascar, Malaya, Maluku, Marianas, Marquesas, Marshall Is., Mauritius, Mexican Pacific Is., Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nicobar Is., Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Is., Ogasawara-shoto, Pakistan, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn Is., Puerto Rico, Réunion, Rodrigues, Samoa, Santa Cruz Is., Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Society Is., Solomon Is., South
James St. John
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Psilophyta | - Whisk-ferns
- Family:
- Psilotaceae
- Genus:
- Psilotum
- Species:
- Psilotum nudum
- USDA Symbol:
- PSNU
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 30 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in rocky crevices and on tree trunks
Propagation & Germination
- Notes:
- Reproduces via spores, not seeds. Spore germination requires specific mycorrhizal associations and is rarely successful in cultivation.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI