southern sword fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Southern sword fern is native to warm parts of the Americas, and its Boston fern cultivars are familiar hanging basket plants. Its long leaves arch outward, and it reproduces without flowers or seeds, using that form on their undersides.

Appearance

Appearance: The fronds usually reach about 2–3 ft (0.6–0.9 m) in cultivated plants and arch as they grow. Many narrow leaflets line each frond.

Look-alikes

Tuberous sword fernNephrolepis cordifolia

Check the underground parts: round , when present, point to tuberous sword fern. Southern sword fern does not make them. Without tubers, a close photo of the leaflet tips and along the middle of a frond helps: southern sword fern usually has more pointed, slightly curved leaflets and one-colored scales.

Why they get mixed upBoth have long fronds with many small leaflets and are sold under overlapping names.

Asian sword fernNephrolepis brownii

Asian sword fern has dark brown scales pressed against the leaf stalk. A close photo of the stalk helps; a distant view may not be enough.

Three similar sword ferns

	Round underground tubers	Leaflet tips	Leaf stalk scales
Southern sword fern	Absent	Usually pointed and curved	Sparse, pale to reddish brown
Tuberous sword fern	Sometimes present	Usually blunter and closer together	Dense, pale brown
Asian sword fern	Absent	Longer, with toothed edges	Pressed dark brown, pale edged

Where it lives

Typical habitats: Florida woodlands
hanging baskets
houseplants
Range: It is native to Florida and other warm parts of the Americas. In cooler U.S. regions, it is commonly grown indoors.
Preferred conditions: It does well with bright, indirect light, warm air, and consistently moist soil.

Life cycle

Reproduction: Spores form on the undersides of fronds. Thin runners can also spread and make new plants.

Growing it

Care: The cultivar ‘Bostoniensis’ has especially graceful, drooping fronds. Other cultivars have ruffled or finely divided leaves.

Name and classification

About the name: Southern sword fern, wild Boston fern, and Boston fern are names used for this species. The Boston name traces to the cultivar ‘Bostoniensis,’ discovered in a shipment sent to Boston.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

11 sources