FNPS Plant Database

Thelypteris kunthii

southern shield fern
  • Photo by: Jeannie Brodhead, Saracennia Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

southern shield fern

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Thelypteris kunthii

Family:

Thelypteridaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

Fern

Size:

1–3 (4) ft tall ,

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Evergreen

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Groundcover recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restoration.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Friends

Propagation:

Division or from spores.

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

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

□□□□□□□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□

Stays wet -to- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Organic

Soil pH:

Adaptable, often calcareous

Suitable to Grow In:

8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

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

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Vouchered In:

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

Ecology

Wildlife:

Cover for many ground-dwelling species.

Native Habitats:

Hydric and mesic hammocks, shallow swamps and swamp edges, floodplains, limerock, concrete, ditches

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

A boiled concoction was used to clean and heal open cuts.

General Comments:

FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Dunbar, Lin. (1989). Ferns of the Coastal Plain. University of South Carolina Press, Columbia, SC./p>

Gann, G.D., C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+). Southern Shield Fern [in] Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Thelkunt ). Accessed 2026. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, FL.


Huegel, Craig N. (2015). Native Florida Plants for Shady Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Nelson, Gil. (2000). The Ferns of Florida: A Reference and Field Guide. Pineapple Press, Sarasota, FL.


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, FL.

Request an update