Acrostichum aureum Care Guide
Acrostichum aureum is a robust mangrove fern tolerant of brackish swamps, used as a tall background plant in mangrove paludariums.
Overview
Acrostichum aureum, the golden leather fern or mangrove fern, is a robust fern of tropical and subtropical coasts. It is notable as one of very few ferns tolerant of saltwater, growing in mangrove swamps, salt marshes and riverbanks. In aquaria it is used as a tall background plant in mangrove paludariums and brackish biotope displays.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pteridaceae
- Genus: Acrostichum
- Scientific name: Acrostichum aureum
- Common synonyms: Golden Leather Fern, Mangrove Fern
Habitat
The fern occurs in tropical and subtropical coastal wetlands worldwide, thriving in mangrove swamps, salt marshes and riverbanks. It tolerates raised salinity and soil inundation, though its spores germinate better in fresh water. Fronds are glossy, broad and pinnate, dark green and leathery, reaching up to about 1.8 m long, with some specimens recorded at 4 m on swamp peripheries. Larger fronds bear brick-red sporangia on the upper pinnae. It is classed Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Tank requirements
- Placement: background, emersed growth
- Water type: brackish
- Temperature: 22-30 °C (72-86 °F)
- pH: 7.0-8.5
- GH: 8-22 °dGH
- Lighting: high (tolerates full sun to deep shade)
- CO2: not required
- Mature height: up to about 200 cm
Growth and propagation
This is a medium-growing, fast-regenerating fern propagated by division of the rhizome (and naturally by spores). It is rated advanced because of its size and brackish requirements, and grows vigorously in disturbed mangrove areas in the wild.