Nephrolepis exaltata
 
Common Names Boston Fern, Sword Fern, Ladder Fern
 
Zones 9B–11 (outdoors); suitable for indoor cultivation year-round
 
A lush, arching fern native to Florida, the West Indies, and tropical America, Nephrolepis exaltata is prized for its elegant fronds and air-purifying qualities. Popularized as the “Boston Fern,” this species thrives in high humidity and indirect light, making it ideal for hanging baskets, porch planters, and shaded garden beds. Its graceful form and tolerance for indoor conditions have made it a classic parlor plant for over a century.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Clumping, upright to arching fern; spreads slowly by rhizomes
Height: Typically 2–3 ft (0.6–0.9 m); fronds may reach 4 ft in ideal conditions
Leaves: Pinnate fronds; sword-shaped; leaflets (pinnae) shallowly toothed or entire; bright green; fuzzy rachis
Bark: Herbaceous; no woody structure
Flowers: Non-flowering; reproduces via spores
Fruit: None; spores borne on underside of mature fronds
Ecology: Grows terrestrially or epiphytically; supports humidity-loving microfauna; native to swamps, hammocks, and floodplains
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates part shade
Watering: Moderate to high; keep soil consistently moist but not soggy
Soil: Rich, loamy, well-drained; high organic content; pH slightly acidic
Temperature: Sensitive below 35°F (1.6°C); ideal range 60–80°F (16–27°C)
Humidity: Very high tolerance; prefers 50%+ humidity; mist regularly indoors
Propagation: Division or spores
Tolerance: Low salt tolerance; sensitive to dry air and direct sun
 
Landscape Use Ideal for shaded garden beds, porch planters, and indoor containers. Use in tropical understory plantings or as a humidity anchor in bathrooms and sunrooms. Pairs well with Asplenium nidus, Calathea orbifolia, and Peperomia obtusifolia.