Los Angeles International Fern Society · Since 1958

Come for the fronds. Stay for the friends.

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Become a member
A member admiring hanging ferns and staghorns in a greenhouse
A giant staghorn fern in a greenhouse
Members exploring a fern-filled member garden
Members among the plants on a garden visit
Members gathered around ferns at an LAIFS outing
Fern lovers exploring a collection together

We’re a community of fern and exotic plant lovers.

We meet every month at the LA County Arboretum to learn from each other, share plants, and grow things together. Beginners, collectors and the simply curious are all welcome.

A member demonstrating how to repot a bird’s nest fern at a meeting

Second Tuesdays at the Arboretum

Talks and live demonstrations from experienced growers, hands-on workshops, a plant table, and plenty of time to talk ferns. Meetings are free and guests are always welcome.

Up next · Tuesday, November 10, 7:00 pm
Propagating ferns from spore. Take home 3–4 freshly sown containers of your own.

Bamboo Room, LA County Arboretum · 301 N. Baldwin Ave, Arcadia

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Members looking up at orchids and staghorns in a Huntington greenhouseMembers gathered around a fountain on a member garden tourMembers holding the staghorns they mounted at a workshopMembers exploring the Huntington conservatoryMembers touring a fern-filled member gardenMembers sharing lunch at the grow area picnicA member garden tour under the oaks

What we get up to

Experiences you can’t get online

Private collection tours
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01

Private collection tours

Wander through extraordinary member gardens and greenhouses that aren’t open to the public.

02

Growers who love to share

Ask questions and swap tips with people who have been growing ferns for decades.

03

Hands-on workshops

Mount a staghorn, sow spores, build a terrarium. Learn by doing, right in our grow area.

04

Rare and unusual plants

Find hard-to-get ferns, carnivorous plants and other exotics from growers who know them well.

05

The plant table and raffle

Every meeting has a table of member-grown plants to take home, plus raffle prizes.

06

Show and competition

Exhibit your favorite plants at our annual Fern & Exotic Plant Show.

07

Connection

Make friends who get just as excited about a new frond as you do.

Come grow with us!

Our own patch of the Arboretum

Behind the scenes at the Arboretum, members propagate plants, get ready for the show, and spend relaxed Saturday mornings gardening together. No experience needed: bring gloves and a water bottle.

Next work day: Friday, October 16 · 9:30 am · Gate 1

Visit the grow area page

Lush ferns and hanging baskets in the LAIFS grow area

Potting benches, picnic tables, greenhouse aisles: we’re always getting our hands dirty together.

Good company, all year round

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Become a member

Membership starts at $25 a year (students from $15), and supports the society, the grow area and the annual show.

Monthly meetingsSpeakers, plant tables, raffles and our lending library.
The LAIFS JournalFour issues a year on growing, identifying and collecting ferns.
Member sales & storeMember-grown ferns, books and supplies at friendly prices.
Tours & field tripsPrivate collections, gardens, nurseries and greenhouses.
Join online