Staghorn fern
Platycerium bifurcatum (Polypodiaceae)
Cats and dogs
Non-toxic to cats and dogs
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 "Common Staghorn Fern", checked October 3, 2026.
Light
- Low light 3+ mol
- Medium light 6+ mol Copes
- Bright indirect 10+ mol Best
- Direct sun 12+ mol
Needs bright indirect or dappled light. It can take more direct sun when it is warm and humid, but very low light encourages pests and disease.
Direct sun: a little gentle morning sun is fine.
On our scale it grows well from about 10 mol/m²/day and holds on down to roughly 1.1 (how these numbers are set).
Care
Care level: Moderate. Water: Soak the base fronds and growing medium, then let it dry slightly between waterings without drying out completely; it rots if overwatered.
A bright bathroom suits it well because of the humidity.
More pet-safe plants for similar light
- African violet bright indirect light
- Boston fern bright indirect light
- Cape primrose (Streptocarpus) bright indirect light
- Christmas cactus bright indirect light
- Earth star (Cryptanthus) bright indirect light
- Friendship plant (Pilea involucrata) bright indirect light
Sources
- Toxicity: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, "Common Staghorn Fern"
- Light and care: University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension (Wisconsin Horticulture), "Staghorn Fern, Platycerium bifurcatum"
- Light and care: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, "Platycerium bifurcatum (Staghorn Fern)"
- Light and care: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, "Staghorn Fern"