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Compare Swordfern and Boston Fern


Boston Fern and Swordfern


What is

Life Span
Perennial   
Perennial   

Type
Fern   
Fern   

Origin
Australia   
Mexico, Central America, South America, Brazil, Africa, Middle Africa, Polynesia   

Types
Polystichum solitarium   
Nephrolepis biserrata, Nephrolepis cordifolia, Nephrolepis multiflora   

Number of Varieties
1   
99+
30   
99+

Habitat
Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Dappled Shade   
Forests, Humid climates, Swamps   

USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11   
10-15   

AHS Heat Zone
12-1   
12-1   

Sunset Zone
H1, H2   
H1, H2, 23, 24   

Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped   
Clump-Forming   

Information

Plant Size
  
  

Minimum Height
120.00 cm   
99+
90.00 cm   
99+

Minimum Width
60.00 cm   
99+
180.00 cm   
99+

Plant Color
  
  

Flower Color
Not Available   
Not Available   

Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor   
Bicolor   

Fruit Color
Not Available   
Not Available   

Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green   
Green   

Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green   
Green   

Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green   
Green   

Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green   
Green   

Shape
  
  

Leaf Shape
Saw-tooth like   
Irregular   

Thorns
No   
No   

Season

Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter   
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter   

Growing Conditions
  
  

Sunlight
Full Shade, 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
All year   
Not Available   

Repeat Bloomer
No   
No   

Tolerances
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types   
Not Available   

Care

Where to Plant?
Ground   
Container, Ground, Pot   

How to Plant?
Divison, From Rhizomes, Spores   
Divison   

Plant Maintenance
Low   
Medium   

Watering Plants
  
  

Watering Requirements
when new, water every week   
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 Shade, Partial shade   
Full Shade, Partial shade   

Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves   
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts   

Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer   
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer   

Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free   
Red blotch   

Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types   
Not Available   

Facts

Flowers
None   
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
No   
No   

Foliage Texture
Coarse   
Medium   

Foliage Sheen
Glossy   
Not Available   

Evergreen
No   
No   

Invasive
Sometimes   
Sometimes   

Self-Sowing
No   
Yes   

Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds   
Hummingbirds   

Allergy
Not Available   
Erythema, Periungual swelling, Scaling, Vesicles   

Benefits

Uses
  
  

Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes   
Hanging Basket, Showy Purposes   

Beauty Benefits
Good for skin   
Not Available   

Edible Uses
Yes   
Insignificant   

Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals   
Air purification, Indoor Air Purification   

Plant Benefits
  
  

Medicinal Uses
Poultice, Sore throat, Tonsillitis   
Not Available   

Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root, Stem   
Not Available   

Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties   
Air freshner, Used as Ornamental plant   

Used As Indoor Plant
No   
Yes   

Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes   
Yes   

Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Tropical, Water Gardens   
Container, Edging, Foundation, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical   

Scientific Name

Botanical Name
Polystichum munitum   
NEPHROLEPIS exaltata 'Bostoniensis'   

Common Name
Swordfern, western swordfern   
Boston swordfern, Wild Boston fern, Tuber ladder fern, Fishbone fern   

In Hindi
Swordfern   
बोस्टन फर्न पौधा   

In German
Sword Fern   
Boston Fern Pflanze   

In French
Epée Fern   
Boston Fern Plante   

In Spanish
helecho espada   
helecho de Boston Planta   

In Greek
ξίφος φτέρη   
Βοστώνη Fern Φυτό   

In Portuguese
espada Fern   
Boston Fern Plantar   

In Polish
Miecz Fern   
Boston paproci Roślina   

In Latin
Fern gladio   
Boston Fern planta   

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae   
Plantae   

Phylum
Pteridophyta   
Pteridophyta   

Class
Filicopsida   
Filicopsida   

Order
Polypodiales   
Polypodiales   

Family
Dryopteridaceae   
Dryopteridaceae   

Genus
Polystichum   
Nephrolepis Schott   

Clade
Not Available   
Not Available   

Tribe
Not Available   
Not Available   

Subfamily
Not Available   
Not Available   

Number of Species
260   
99+
30   
99+

What is >>
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Difference Between Swordfern and Boston Fern

If you are confused whether Swordfern or Boston Fern are same, here are some features about those plants to help you choose better. Many people think that these two plants have the same characteristics, but one can see Swordfern and Boston Fern Information and learn more about it. Fertilizers required for proper growth of Swordfern are All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, whereas for Boston Fern fertilizers required are All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer. Hence, one should know the basic difference between Swordfern and Boston Fern if you are planning to have them in your garden to enhance its beauty.

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Importance of Swordfern and Boston Fern

Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Swordfern and Boston Fern. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Swordfern and Boston Fern as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Swordfern is Poultice, Sore throat and Tonsillitis whereas of Boston Fern is Not Available. Swordfern has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin while Boston Fern has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin.

Compare Facts of Swordfern vs Boston Fern

How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Swordfern vs Boston Fern and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Swordfern are Not Available whereas of Boston Fern have Erythema, Periungual swelling, Scaling and Vesicles respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Swordfern has no showy fruits and Boston Fern has no showy fruits. Also Swordfern is not flowering and Boston Fern is not flowering . You can compare Swordfern and Boston Fern facts and facts of other plants too.

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