Happy Flower Pot

Button fern

Pellaea rotundifolia (Pteridaceae)

Also called Button Fern, Green Cliff Brack, Cliff Break.

Cats and dogs

Non-toxic to cats and dogs

Cats: non-toxic Dogs: non-toxic

Not expected to poison cats or dogs. Eating any plant can still cause vomiting or an upset stomach, so keep it out of reach of chewers.

Source: ASPCA entry "Cliff Brake", checked October 3, 2026.

Light

  1. Low light 3+ mol
  2. Medium light 6+ mol Best
  3. Bright indirect 10+ mol
  4. Direct sun 12+ mol

Indoors grow it in indirect or subdued light; it prefers filtered shade but has some tolerance for both sunny and shady spots. MBG suggests brighter indirect light in winter and softer light in summer.

Direct sun: best kept out of it.

On our scale it grows well from about 6 mol/m²/day and holds on down to roughly 1.1 (how these numbers are set).

Will it grow in my window?

Care

Care level: Moderate. Water: Water regularly but let the mix dry slightly between waterings; it tolerates occasional dryness.

Unlike most ferns, it does not need high humidity.

More pet-safe plants for similar light

Sources