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Hammock fern

Blechnum appendiculatum

Last reviewed: November 2026

Hammock fern (Blechnum appendiculatum) is a perennial fern native to FL, GA, TX.

Watering reminders and freeze alerts for Hammock fern, free in the app.

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Hammock fern (Blechnum appendiculatum)
Photo: (c) Forest and Kim Starr, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Toxicity unknown

Hammock fern (Blechnum appendiculatum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part shade

Water

high

Size

12"–24" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

N/A

Native to

FL, GA, TX

Before you buy

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Edwards PlateauSouthern Coastal Plain

A clumping evergreen fern with glossy, leathery, once-pinnate fronds arising from a short rhizome, found naturally in shaded, humid hammocks.

Growing Hammock fern

Grow Hammock fern in part shade and high water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide.

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Wildlife value

Provides year-round shaded ground cover and shelter for small wildlife.

Common questions

How much sun does Hammock fern need?
Hammock fern grows best in part shade conditions.
Where is Hammock fern native?
Hammock fern (Blechnum appendiculatum) is native to FL, GA, 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.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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Ready to grow Hammock fern? Add it to your garden in the Pollinator Patch App to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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