The staghorn fern vs elkhorn fern question trips up a lot of plant owners. Both belong to the Platycerium genus and look alike at first glance. But they differ in growth habit, frond shape, and how they form colonies. Once you know what to look for, you can tell them apart in seconds.
When I first started growing both species side by side I couldn't tell them apart for the first few months. After one growing season the staghorn elkhorn difference became clear. My staghorn (P. bifurcatum) stayed as a single plant with broad, thick fronds that forked into two or three wide points. My elkhorn (P. alcicorne) sent out pups fast and formed a tight cluster of smaller plants within months. The frond shapes looked different once both plants matured.
The split between Platycerium bifurcatum vs alcicorne shows up in how they grow. P. bifurcatum grows as a single plant or makes pups at a slow rate. P. alcicorne forms dense groups with many plants packed together. This is your fastest way to tell them apart from across the room. A single dramatic plant with big antler fronds is most likely a staghorn. A dense ball of many smaller plants points to an elkhorn.
Your frond shape is the most reliable way to tell them apart up close. Staghorn ferns produce wider fertile fronds with fewer fork points. That gives each frond the classic broad antler look. Elkhorn ferns grow more fronds that are narrower and branch more times at the tips. The elkhorn fronds look like a deer's antlers with many fine points rather than the thick flat prongs you see on a staghorn.
Your shield fronds tell you a lot too. Staghorn ferns grow round, thick shield fronds that stack neatly on top of each other at the base. Elkhorn shield fronds tend to be thinner and more uneven in shape. They still protect the roots and trap nutrients but they don't form as clean a base as your staghorn's shields do.
To identify your plant at home, check three things. First, look at the growth pattern. A single plant means you have a staghorn. A dense cluster means you have an elkhorn. Second, check your frond width. Wide fronds with two to three forks point to staghorn. Narrow fronds with many fine splits point to elkhorn. Third, look at your shield fronds. Round and thick means staghorn. Uneven and thin means elkhorn. Get all three markers right and you can tell these two apart every time.
Read the full article: Staghorn Fern: 8 Species, Mounting, and Care
