FNPS Plant Database

Woodwardia virginica

chain fern

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

chain fern

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Woodwardia virginica

Family:

Blechnaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

fern

Size:

2-3 ft, spreads broadly by rhisomes.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

NA

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

Winter dormant. Spreads by rhisomes.

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Use as a groundcover in moist areas. Also useful in wetland restoration areas.

Considerations:

Aggressive, so plant where this will not be a problem or where nothing else will grow.

Availability:

Native Nurseries

Propagation:

Division.

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Aquatic ---to--- Somewhat moist, no flooding

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, Loam, Organic

Soil pH:

acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

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

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



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Native Habitats:

Swamps, marshes.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Citations:

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



Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A gardener's guide to Florida's native Plants.  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 ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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