Nephrolepis spp.
sword ferns
Overview
Nephrolepis spp. is a genus of about 30 species of ferns in the family Nephrolepidaceae, distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Plants produce erect to arching fronds 0.3-2 m (1-6.5 ft) long from short, scaly rhizomes, and spread by wiry runners, or stolons, that root to form new plants. The fronds are once-pinnate, with many narrow, oblong leaflets, or pinnae, arranged along a central rachis. N. exaltata and its cultivar Bostoniensis, the Boston fern, are widely grown as houseplants. N. cordifolia forms small underground tubers. Reproduction is by spores borne in rounded sori on the undersides of fertile pinnae, and by vegetative spread along the stolons. In frost-free climates the fronds are evergreen and plants form dense colonies; some species, including N. cordifolia, have naturalized and become invasive in Florida and other warm regions. The genus grows on humid forest floors, on rocks, and as epiphytes on tree trunks. Growth slows or stops below about 10 C (50 F).
Native Range
Distributed across the tropics and subtropics of both hemispheres, including the Americas, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. N. exaltata occurs naturally in Florida, the West Indies, and tropical America. Several Old World species have naturalized in warm parts of North America.Suggested Uses
Grown as houseplants and in hanging baskets for arching evergreen foliage, and as shade-garden groundcover in frost-free climates. The fronds are also used as cut greenery in floral arrangements.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 6'6"
Width/Spread1' - 4'
Bloom Information
Ferns do not flower. Nephrolepis spp. reproduces by spores produced in rounded sori on the undersides of mature fronds, and by vegetative runners. New fronds, called fiddleheads, unfurl through the growing season whenever warmth and moisture allow.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
bright greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 1-4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Sword ferns grow in part shade to full shade in humid air and moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. They are frost-tender, with foliage damaged below about 0 C (32 F), and grow indoors or under cover in cool climates. Consistent moisture and high humidity prevent the leaflets from browning and dropping. As houseplants they need bright indirect light and a humid setting. Outdoors in frost-free regions, runners can spread plants into dense, sometimes invasive colonies.Pruning
Dead or browned fronds are trimmed at the base through the year to keep plants tidy and bring on new growth. Overgrown indoor plants are cut back hard in spring and reflush. Runners are removed to limit spread where unwanted.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons