FNPS Plant Database

Nephrolepis biserrata

giant swordfern

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

giant swordfern

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Nephrolepis biserrata

Family:

Nephrolepidaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

fern

Size:

To 3.5 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

NA

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Borders, groundcover on wooded edges. This is a very tall fern, so best planted toward the back of a garden.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries

Propagation:

Division.

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay, Loam, Organic

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

10A,10B,11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Native Habitats:

Swamps, hammocks.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

This fern is listed as Threatened by the FDACS.  Where is it, however, it is highly robust.  

Citations:

Huegel, Craig, N.  2012.  Native wildflowers and other ground covers for Florida landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Nelson, Gil.  2003.  Florida's Best Landscape Plants. Association of Florida Native Nurseries.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants (http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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