Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Fern
  
Tree
  
Origin
North America
  
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Damp shady woods, Wet ground, Wet lands
  
Dappled Shade, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Secondary
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-10
  
4-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-8
  
9-1
  
Sunset Zone
4
  
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
  
Thicket/Colonizing
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Non Flowering Plant
  
White, Green, Ivory
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Purple, Black
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
  
Green, Blue Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Green, Blue Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Bronze
  
Yellow, Green, Purple, Blue Green, Dark Green, Yellow green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
  
bipinnate
  
Thorns
No
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Fall, Spring, Summer
  
Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Pollution, Soil Compaction
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
  
Cuttings, Divison, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Water Deeply, Water in morning to avoid prompting diseases, Water occasionally, Water slowly, and allow to dry completely between soakings
  
Needs high amount of water
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Poorly Drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Leaf curl, Leaf rust, Red blotch, Scale, Scale insects
  
Aphids, Leaf spot, Mealybugs
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
None
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
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
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
Yes
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Coarse
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Butterflies
  
Bees, Butterflies, Insects, Not Available
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Skin irritation
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Bog Garden, Borders
  
Borders, Woodland margins
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Alterative, Analgesic, Diaphoretic, Opthalmic
  
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
  
Bark, Leaves, Root
  
Other Uses
Not Available
  
Used as a potherb
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Groundcover, Mixed Border
  
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
  
Botanical Name
THELYPTERIS kunthii
  
ARALIA spinosa
  
Common Name
Kunth's maiden fern, southern shield fern, maiden ferns
  
American Angelica Tree, Devil's Walking Stick, Hercules' Club
  
In Hindi
Southern Shield Fern
  
Devil's Walking Stick
  
In German
Southern Shield Fern
  
Teufelsspazierstock
  
In French
Southern Shield Fern
  
Walking bâton du diable
  
In Spanish
Southern Shield Fern
  
Bastón del Diablo
  
In Greek
Southern Shield Fern
  
Περπάτημα Stick διαβόλου
  
In Portuguese
Southern Shield Fern
  
Vara andando de diabo
  
In Polish
Southern Shield Fern
  
Diabelski laska
  
In Latin
Southern Shield Fern
  
Virgam diaboli
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Angiosperms
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Polypodiopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Polypodiales
  
Apiales
  
Family
Thelypteridaceae
  
Araliaceae
  
Genus
Thelypteris
  
Aralia
  
Clade
Not Available
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Aralioideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available