Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen, Vines
  
Fern
  
Origin
India, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Southern Asia
  
Mexico, Central America, South America, Brazil, Africa, Middle Africa, Polynesia
  
Types
Red pepper, Orange pepper
  
Nephrolepis biserrata, Nephrolepis cordifolia, Nephrolepis multiflora
  
Habitat
Moist Soils, orchards, Temperate Regions
  
Forests, Humid climates, Swamps
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
  
10-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 1
  
12-1
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Lemon yellow
  
Not Available
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Red, Green, Light Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Circular cordate
  
Irregular
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
  
Divison
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Sprinkle water over foliage, Water every two or three days during warmer months
  
Average Water Needs, Requires regular watering
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Pruning
A hard prune may be necessary if the plant becomes woody, Remove dead branches, Trim each shoot back to the first set of leaves
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
10-10-10 diluted liquid fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Do not let fertilizers touch the leaves
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Beetles, Root rot, Rust, Scab
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction
  
Not Available
  
Flowers
Not Available
  
No
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
Yes
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Not Available
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Aphids, Leafminer, Snails, Squirrels
  
Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
Oral Allergy
  
Erythema, Periungual swelling, Scaling, Vesicles
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Decorating walls
  
Hanging Basket, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Acne, Blackheads
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Insignificant
  
Environmental Uses
Fixes Nitrogen, Insect Repellent
  
Air purification, Indoor Air Purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Acid Reflux, Dysentry, Healthy teeth, Inflammation, Oral health
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Dried seeds
  
Not Available
  
Other Uses
Culinary use, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Used in herbal medicines
  
Air freshner, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
  
Container, Edging, Foundation, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
Piper nigrum
  
NEPHROLEPIS exaltata 'Bostoniensis'
  
Common Name
Peppercorn, Piper, Black pepper
  
Boston swordfern, Wild Boston fern, Tuber ladder fern, Fishbone fern
  
In Hindi
काली मिर्च
  
बोस्टन फर्न
पौधा
  
In German
Pfeffer
  
Boston Fern
Pflanze
  
In French
Piper nigrum
  
Boston Fern
Plante
  
In Spanish
Poivrier noir
  
helecho de Boston
Planta
  
In Greek
μαύρο πιπέρι
  
Βοστώνη Fern
Φυτό
  
In Portuguese
Pimenta-preta
  
Boston Fern
Plantar
  
In Polish
Pieprz czarny
  
Boston paproci
Roślina
  
In Latin
nigrum piperis
  
Boston Fern
planta
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Pteridophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Filicopsida
  
Order
Piperales
  
Polypodiales
  
Family
Piperaceae
  
Dryopteridaceae
  
Genus
Piper
  
Nephrolepis Schott
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Not Available
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available