Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Fern
  
Flowering Plants, Shrubs
  
Origin
Mexico, Central America, South America, Brazil, Africa, Middle Africa, Polynesia
  
Africa, America, Asia
  
Types
Nephrolepis biserrata, Nephrolepis cordifolia, Nephrolepis multiflora
  
Lockinch, Petite Indigo, White Profusion
  
Habitat
Forests, Humid climates, Swamps
  
Along Railroads, River side, Roadsides
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
  
5-10
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
  
9-2
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
  
H1, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Arching/Fountain-shaped
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Not Available
  
Blue, Pink, Purple, Red, White
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Gray Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Gray Green, Light Green, Yellow green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Irregular
  
Egg-shaped
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam
  
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral, Slightly Acidic, Slightly Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Not Available
  
Spring
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Drought, Pollution, Salt, Soil Compaction
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Divison
  
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Transplanting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Requires regular watering
  
Form a Soil ring to water efficiently, Water Deeply, Water twice a day in the initial period
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral, Slightly Acidic, Slightly Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam
  
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Cut or pinch the stems, Prune for shortening long shoots, Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads, Remove shoots
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Downy mildew, Leaf spot, Spider mites
  
Plant Tolerance
Not Available
  
Drought
  
Flowers
No
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Not Available
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
Yes
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Hummingbirds
  
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
Erythema, Periungual swelling, Scaling, Vesicles
  
Vomiting
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Hanging Basket, Showy Purposes
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Insignificant
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Indoor Air Purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
  
Flowers, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Air freshner, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Edging, Foundation, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Edging, Feature Plant, Foundation
  
Botanical Name
NEPHROLEPIS exaltata 'Bostoniensis'
  
Buddleia davidii
  
Common Name
Boston swordfern, Wild Boston fern, Tuber ladder fern, Fishbone fern
  
Butterfly Bush, Summer Lilac, Butterflybush
  
In Hindi
बोस्टन फर्न
पौधा
  
Butterfly Bush
  
In German
Boston Fern
Pflanze
  
Schmetterlingsstrauch
  
In French
Boston Fern
Plante
  
buisson de papillon
  
In Spanish
helecho de Boston
Planta
  
arbusto de las mariposas
  
In Greek
Βοστώνη Fern
Φυτό
  
Butterfly Μπους
  
In Portuguese
Boston Fern
Plantar
  
arbusto de borboleta
  
In Polish
Boston paproci
Roślina
  
Butterfly Bush
  
In Latin
Boston Fern
planta
  
papilio rubo
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Pteridophyta
  
Spermatophyta
  
Class
Filicopsida
  
Dicotyledonae
  
Order
Polypodiales
  
Lamiales
  
Family
Dryopteridaceae
  
Scrophulariaceae
  
Genus
Nephrolepis Schott
  
Buddleja
  
Clade
Not Available
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available