Fern 'Lemon Button'

Tiny button-like leaves with a soft, lush fern look.

The Lemon Button Fern, botanically known as Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’, brings fresh green texture indoors with compact, arching fronds covered in tiny rounded leaflets.

Also known as the Duffii Fern, this petite tropical fern gives you all the softness of a classic fern without needing the footprint of a large Boston Fern. Its compact size makes it especially easy to style on shelves, desks, bathroom counters, plant stands, and smaller indoor spaces.

Pet-friendly and beautifully textural, Lemon Button Fern is a lovely choice if you want a small indoor fern that adds softness without taking over the room.

Why You’ll Love It

• Tiny button-like foliage
  Small rounded leaflets line each frond, creating a delicate, almost miniature fern look.
• Perfect for smaller spaces
  Its compact growth works beautifully on shelves, desks, counters, nightstands, and plant stands.
• Pet-friendly
  Lemon Button Fern is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
• Made for humid spaces
  It appreciates extra humidity, making bright bathrooms and kitchens especially good homes for it.
• Softens a plant display
  Fine, arching foliage adds texture and movement between broader-leaved tropical plants.

Best For

Bright bathrooms • Bedrooms • Home offices • Shelving • Plant stands • Small spaces • Pet-friendly homes • Fern lovers

Care at a Glance

Light: Medium to bright, indirect light
Water: Keep the soil lightly moist, allowing the surface to dry slightly between waterings
Humidity: Prefers moderate to high humidity
Difficulty: Beginner-friendly to intermediate
Pet Friendly: Yes

Styling Tip

Lemon Button Fern is perfect for those smaller styling moments.

Place it on a bathroom counter, bookshelf, desk, nightstand, console, or plant stand where the arching fronds can soften the edges around it.

Its fresh green foliage pairs beautifully with terracotta, warm white, stone, woven baskets, and earthy ceramic planters.

For a layered plant display, place it near larger-leaved plants like philodendrons or Alocasias. The contrast makes those tiny rounded leaflets feel even more delicate.

Good to Know

Lemon Button Fern prefers bright indirect light indoors and appreciates soil that stays lightly moist without becoming soggy.

Try not to let the pot dry completely for long periods. Ferns generally appreciate a little more consistency than drought-tolerant houseplants.

Higher humidity can help keep the fronds looking lush and reduce crispy edges, especially in dry indoor environments.

Good drainage still matters. The goal is evenly moist soil, not waterlogged roots.

You may see this plant labeled Lemon Button Fern, Duffii Fern, Duffy Fern, or Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii’.

If you’re searching for a pet-friendly compact fern for bathrooms, shelves, or small spaces, Lemon Button Fern brings soft texture, fresh green foliage, and an easy tropical feel to indoor spaces.