FNPS Plant Database

Nephrolepis biserrata

giant swordfern
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

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:

Fruit Color:

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

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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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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

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.  
FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Huegel, Craig N. (2012). Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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