Java Fern Black Forest

Dark, almost black-green leaves with a heavily textured surface, growing dense rather than open. Leptochilus pteropus 'Black Forest' is the Java Fern to reach for when a scape needs shadow and mass at the back — and it asks for nothing more than the plain green form does.

What You'll Receive

Sold as loose bare-root plants, bunched plants, or potted plants:

• Bare-root Plants: Approximately 6+ leaf portion, loose rhizome
• Bunched Plants: Approximately 6+ leaf portion bundled with foam and plant weight
• Potted Plants: Approximately 6+ leaf portion, potted in rockwool and net pot

Plant Profile

• Common name — Black Forest Java Fern
• Scientific name — Leptochilus pteropus 'Black Forest' (syn. Microsorum pteropus)
• Origin — Cultivated form; the species ranges across Java, Malaysia, Thailand, northeast India and southern China
• Placement — Midground to background, attached to driftwood, stone or décor
• Mature height — 8-12 inches
• Growth rate — Slow

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Low to medium
• CO₂ — Not required
• Water — 68-82°F, pH 6.0-7.5, soft to moderately hard
• Substrate — Not required. Epiphyte — attach the rhizome to hardscape and never bury it.
• Growth habit — Amphibious; grows emersed as well as submersed
• Propagation — Rhizome division, plus plantlets from mature leaves

Grower's Notes

• Dark plants need light behind them. Against black substrate and dark wood this variety vanishes. Set it where pale sand, light stone or bright green foliage sits behind or beside it and the depth of color becomes the point.
• It grows dense, so it needs space. Unlike the open, upright plain form, Black Forest fills in. Give it more room on the hardscape than you think it needs, or the inner leaves shade themselves and thin out.
• Never bury the rhizome. Roots may go into substrate; the thick horizontal stem must stay in open water or it rots — the usual way a Java Fern is lost.
• Black spots on old leaves are baby plants, not disease. Leave a spotted leaf in place until each plantlet has roots and two or three leaves, then detach and attach it elsewhere. This is how one plant becomes a wall of them.
• Expect a change of leaf. We grow this emersed, so some arriving fronds will die back as it converts to submerged growth. That is the plant working, not failing.

Want to go deeper? Read our complete Java Fern Care Guide.

Notes

Photos are sample representations. Actual plants may vary in size, shape, or coloration. Unless otherwise specified, we do not guarantee plants are free of pests, pesticides, or exclusively submerged-grown.

Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.

At a glance

• Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
• Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
• Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
• USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
• UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
• Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
• We ship within the United States only.

Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.

The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.

How it works

• Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
• Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
• We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.

Good to know

• Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
• Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
• Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.

The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.

Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.

Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.