The White Rabbit’s Foot Bonsai Tree, scientific name Davallia tyermanii, is a fern that belongs to the Davallia genus which consists of 40 species of ferns.
It is native to the Canary Islands and can grow as a terrestrial or epiphyte, meaning it can grow upon another plant or a rock. This growing characteristic of this plant can be used to create interesting bonsai compositions.
It can tolerate some neglect but grows best in bright light and moist well-drained soil.
Additional Information
Family: Davalliaceae
Scientific name: Davallia tyermanii, Humata tyermanii, Humata griffithiana
Common Names: White Rabbit’s Foot Fern, Silver Hare’s Foot Fern, Bears Paw Fern.
Origin: Native to the Canary Islands.
Appearance: It has dark green fronds that are attached to long rhizomes, a specialized root-like stem, that can be used in different bonsai styles.
Fronds are subdivided into smaller leaflets. When it is mature enough it starts to grow soft, furry, silver rhizomes that resemble rabbit feet, hence the common name White Rabbit’s Foot.
Flowering: It does not produce flowers or seeds. It reproduces using spores which are often clustered together in the brown spots visible on the fronds’ undersides.
Outdoor/Indoor Use: Both. Great for indoors.
Light Requirements: Partial shade.
Water Requirements: Needs regular watering. Allow for the soil to dry between watering. Do not overwater. Very easy to grow.
Hardiness: Grows best in the USDA Zones 8-10. Needs to be protected from temperatures below 45F.
Insects and Diseases: Scales, mealy bugs, bacterial blight, leaf tip burn, methods foliage & roots wilt), pythium root rot, and Rhizoctonia blight.
Propagation: Since ferns don’t produce flowers or seeds, the best way to propagate them is by division of the rhizomes, long root-like stems that grow underground.
