FNPS Plant Database

Thelypteris kunthii

southern shield fern

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

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:

NA

Fruit Color:

NA

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

Coming Soon!

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.



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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:

Citations:

Dunbar, Lin.1989.  Ferns of the Coastal Plain. University of South Carolina Press,  p. 98-99.



Huegel, Craig. 2015.  Native Florida Plants for Shady Places. University Press of Florida,  p. 200-201.



Institute for Regional Conservation.  2021.  https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Thelkunt.



Nelson, Gil. 2000.   The Ferns of Florida. Pineapple Press, p. 167



 

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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