The fern is native to north-east New South Wales (north of Nabiac) and Queensland.

[5] Platycerium superbum is a bracket epiphyte naturally occurring in and near rainforests but is now also widely cultivated as an ornamental plant for gardens.

In both naturally occurring and propagated forms, these ferns develop a humus-collecting "nest" of non-fertile fronds and in doing so can grow up to 1 metre wide.

The ferns also develop hanging fertile fronds that can reach up to 2 metres long.

[3] In the wild, the nest structure captures falling leaves and other detritus which then decomposes to provide the plant with nutrients.