Crocodile Fern (Microsorum musifolium ‘Crocodyllus’)

This tropical fern from South Africa is resilient and easy-to-grow. The leaves have an unusual texture that looks like crocodile skin with segmented patterning of light green with darker veining. The long leaves appear to come out of the soil but actually arise from a rhizome that grows close to the soil surface. In its native habitat, it is an epiphyte that can take tremendous amounts of dryness during the dry season and still thrive. Crocodile Fern performs best in a rich, well-drained potting soil.