House Plant History Podcast: Victorian Fern Fever

Introduction

• Podcast about plants, focusing on Victorian Fern Fever.
• Victorian Fern Fever influenced societal and environmental change during the 19th century in England.

Victorian Era Context

• Spanned 1837 to 1901 under Queen Victoria.
• Period of rapid transformation:
  • Imperial expansion
  • Industrial Revolution
  • Inventions like the telephone
  • Darwin's "On the Origin of Species"
• Notable events:
  • The Great Exhibition of 1851 held in The Crystal Palace.

The Crystal Palace and The Great Exhibition

• Featured 14,000 exhibitors over eight miles of tables.
• Structure made of glass and cast iron, resembling a greenhouse.

Wardian Case

• Miniature greenhouse showcased at the exhibition.
• Invention by Dr. Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward in 1829.
• Used for transporting plants safely over long distances.
• Became popular for home use, especially for ferns.

The Fern Craze

• Popularized by Edward Newman's 1840 book "A History of British Ferns".
• Led to a phenomenon known as "Fern Fever" or "Fern Madness".
• Ferns were a symbol of status and intrigue across all social classes.

Social and Cultural Impact

• Wardian cases, ferneries, and fern houses became fashionable.
• Fern hunting became a societal activity, offering social freedoms, especially for women.
• Co-ed fern hunting parties allowed social interaction without chaperones.

Gender and Social Commentary

• Fern collecting associated with women and labeled as hysteria.
• Charles Kingsley coined "Pteridomania" to describe the craze.
• Charles Dickens hoped ferns would engage his apathetic daughter.

Commercial Impact

• Fern motifs became popular in British ceramics from 1862.
• Products included teapots, chamber pots, and more.

Environmental Impact

• Over-collection led to endangerment of native ferns.
• Calls for conservation laws to protect ferns emerged.
• Fern populations in England and surrounding areas have not fully recovered.

Legacy and Lessons

• Victorian Fern Craze serves as a lesson on conservation.
• Highlights the thin walls separating human homes from nature.
• Wardian case had lasting impacts on plant transportation and introduction of invasive species.
• Encourages appreciation for keeping local plant species in their natural habitats.