Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Fern
  
Shrub
  
Origin
Mexico, Central America, South America, Brazil, Africa, Middle Africa, Polynesia
  
Eastern Asia, Japan
  
Types
Nephrolepis biserrata, Nephrolepis cordifolia, Nephrolepis multiflora
  
Not Available
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Forests, Humid climates, Swamps
  
Old fields, stream banks
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
  
4-8
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
  
8-5
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
  
A3, 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
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Not Available
  
Yellow, Yellow green
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Red orange
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Purple, Orange, Burgundy, Crimson
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Irregular
  
Obovate
  
Thorns
No
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Loam
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Not Available
  
Spring, Late Spring
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Pollution, Drought, Salt, Soil Compaction
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Divison
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Requires regular watering
  
Requires regular watering during dry weather
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Red blotch, Sunken patches
  
Plant Tolerance
Not Available
  
Drought
  
Flowers
No
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
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
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Not Available
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Hummingbirds
  
Birds
  
Allergy
Erythema, Periungual swelling, Scaling, Vesicles
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Hanging Basket, Showy Purposes
  
Borders
  
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
  
Anthelmintic, Antibacterial, Antiseptic, Cancer
  
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
  
Fruits, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Air freshner, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used to make yellow dye
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Edging, Foundation, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Edging, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Botanical Name
NEPHROLEPIS exaltata 'Bostoniensis'
  
BERBERIS thunbergii
  
Common Name
Boston swordfern, Wild Boston fern, Tuber ladder fern, Fishbone fern
  
Japanese Barberry
  
In Hindi
बोस्टन फर्न
पौधा
  
Japanese Barberry
  
In German
Boston Fern
Pflanze
  
Thunberg-Berberitze
  
In French
Boston Fern
Plante
  
Berberis thunbergii
  
In Spanish
helecho de Boston
Planta
  
Berberis thunbergii
  
In Greek
Βοστώνη Fern
Φυτό
  
Japanese Barberry
  
In Portuguese
Boston Fern
Plantar
  
Japanese Barberry
  
In Polish
Boston paproci
Roślina
  
Berberys Thunberga
  
In Latin
Boston Fern
planta
  
Japanese Barberry
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Pteridophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Filicopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Polypodiales
  
Ranunculales
  
Family
Dryopteridaceae
  
Berberidaceae
  
Genus
Nephrolepis Schott
  
Berberis
  
Clade
Not Available
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available