Ferns provide elegant, greenery with a classic, airy form. The Macho fern (Nephrolepis biserrata) is one of the best examples of these plants. Best of all, Macho fern care is easy, breezy and can grow either as a houseplant or an outdoor specimen in warmer regions. It can grow outdoors year round in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 10, either in the ground or potted, and can also do well grown indoors as a large houseplant in any region. A tropical, evergreen fern, it's also called "giant sword fern" because its sword-shaped fronds can be 4 feet long, with the entire plant approaching a width of 6 feet. A Macho fern needs light shade for best growth; too much sun can scorch the fronds and slow overall growth. If you grow this fern in the ground, the best spot is under tall trees that provide shifting shade throughout the day. If you grow a macho fern indoors, give it a spot that gets bright, filtered light -- a few feet from a lightly curtained, west- or south-facing window is ideal. Never expose the plant to direct, mid-day sun, which can burn its foliage.