Can I grow this in a standard garden?

Only if you have a very wet, tropical climate and can provide constant high moisture.

Does it need salt to survive?

No, it grows well in fresh water but is uniquely adapted to handle salt.

Plant guide

Golden leather fern.

Acrostichum aureum

Pronounced uh-KROS-ti-kum AW-ree-um

Also known as Golden Leather Fern, Golden Leatherfern, Leather Fern

The golden leather fern is a striking, salt tolerant plant that thrives in swampy, coastal environments. It features large, leathery fronds that can add a dramatic tropical feel to your space. You will love how resilient this fern is once it settles into its home.

Another photo of Golden leather fern — Photo by Jacy Chen (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Fern
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 2 to 4 days
Mature size: 6 to 8 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 12

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist as this fern loves high humidity and damp conditions. Watch for yellowing fronds which often signal that the soil has dried out too much. Ensure the plant stays in a warm spot away from cold drafts.

Watering: Keep the soil damp at all times but avoid letting it sit in standing water.
Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength during the growing season.
Pruning: Trim away any brown or damaged fronds at the base to keep the plant looking tidy.
Repotting: Move to a slightly larger pot when the roots begin to crowd the container.
Soil: Peaty, moisture retentive mix
Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.0
Temperature: 15 to 35°C
Humidity: 70 to 100%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, long lived in ideal conditions.
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots circling the bottom of the pot.
Stunted growth despite adequate water.
Pot becoming unstable due to top heavy growth.

Safety

People: The plant contains compounds that may cause irritation if ingested without proper preparation.
Pets: This plant is generally considered non toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: Keep children away from the sharp, stiff tips of the fronds to prevent accidental scratches.
Contact allergens: The stiff, leathery fronds can cause minor skin abrasions if handled roughly.
Airborne allergens: Spore release can be a minor irritant for those with severe respiratory sensitivities.
Edibility: The young fronds are sometimes eaten as a cooked vegetable in traditional diets, but do not eat any part of the plant unless it is correctly identified and properly prepared.

How to identify it

Large leathery fronds
Golden brown spores on tips
Stiff upright growth habit
Deep green glossy leaflets

Height: 1.5 to 3m
Spread: 1 to 2m
Leaves: dark green, leathery, evergreen
Flowers: 0cm

Problems to watch for

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your golden leather fern from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: division, spores
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Ensure the plant stays in a frost free environment with high humidity throughout the winter months.
In containers: It is difficult to maintain in containers due to the extreme moisture and space requirements.

Division

1. Carefully dig up a mature clump.
2. Use a sharp blade to separate the rhizome into sections.
3. Ensure each section has healthy fronds and roots.
4. Replant immediately in wet, organic soil.

Plant in groups to mimic the natural density of mangrove understory communities.

Grows well with

Red Mangrove · They naturally occur together in coastal wetland zones.
Black Mangrove · This species shares the same salt tolerant habitat requirements.

Similar species

Swamp Fern · It occupies similar wet, boggy environments.

Science

Family: Pteridaceae
Genus: Acrostichum
Order: Polypodiales
Class: Polypodiopsida
Native range: Tropical and subtropical coastal regions worldwide.
Conservation: It is a vital component of mangrove ecosystems and is protected in many coastal regions.

It acts as a pioneer species in disturbed mangrove areas, helping to stabilize the mud and trap sediment.

Value to wildlife: provides habitat for coastal wildlife, stabilizes mangrove soil
Uses: coastal restoration, wetland landscaping, ornamental in tropical gardens

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 6/9
Soil reaction: 7/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 9/9
Moisture: 9/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I grow this in a standard garden?: Only if you have a very wet, tropical climate and can provide constant high moisture.
Does it need salt to survive?: No, it grows well in fresh water but is uniquely adapted to handle salt.

Where the name comes from

The name Acrostichum refers to the arrangement of the spore cases at the tips of the fronds, while aureum describes the golden color of these mature spores.

Good to know

It is commonly known as the golden leather fern due to the color of its spore patches.
This fern can grow in both freshwater and saltwater environments.
It is a key indicator species for healthy mangrove fringes.

Also in

Deer-resistant plants

Keep your golden leather fern growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.