Acrostichum danaeifolium
Photographs belong to the photographers who allow use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.
Giant Leather Fern
Pteridaceae
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Fern | |
| Size: | 6 - 12 ft tall by 5-10 ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | NA | |
| Fruit Color: | Brown | |
| Phenology: | Evergreen. Fertile fronds present nearly year round. | |
| Noted for: | Interesting foliage |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Specimen plant or mass background planting in moist areas. Could be used as a hedge. As this fern gets very tall, it is not appropriate as a groundcover. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Considerations: | Not drought tolerant. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Aquatic ----- to ----- Usually moist, occasional inundation) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Aquatic ----- to ----- Usually moist, occasional inundation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Tolerant of inundation with brackish water | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt spray without injury. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil or other substrate: | Clay, Loam, Organic material (muck), Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil pH: | Circum neutral | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
Used as cover. | |
| Insects: | ||
| Native Habitats: | Brackish and freshwater marshes, swamps, river floodplains. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11 9A 9B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| Ethnobotany: | Fiddleheads are edible. Fronds have been used as thatch. | |
| General Comments: | Can be cut back to improve appearance, but should not be severely pruned more than once a year. Spores cover undersides of leaves giving them a bi-color appearance. |