Boston fern
Nephrolepis exaltata
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
shade
Water
medium
Size
24"–36" H × 24"–48" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AZ, FL, LA, TX
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaSword fern is an evergreen fern with arching, finely divided fronds that form a dense clump. It grows in shaded, humid understory sites and reproduces by spores rather than flowers.
Wildlife value
As a non-flowering fern it offers no nectar or pollen, but the dense fronds provide shelter for small ground-dwelling wildlife and insects.
Common questions
- How much sun does Boston fern need?
- Boston fern grows best in shade conditions.
- When does Boston fern bloom?
- Boston fern blooms in June, July, and August.
- Where is Boston fern native?
- Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) is native to AZ, FL, LA, TX, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Boston fern? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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