PlantFiles: Boston Fern, Sword Fern
Nephrolepis exaltata

i just save a bosten fern from a cold death at my grandmas house. it was very large untill i had to cut it back. it had gone through a cupple good frosts and the foliage was pretty well spent. i hope it regrows back quickly. i am also hoping to divide it soon.

update:
three weeks later, and i estemate it will be about another week untill it is fully recovered!!! once it recovers, i will devide it

A.K.A. Nephrolepis exaltata var. bostoniensis

This fern has thrived here in zone 9b, growing against the wall of the house where it is shaded from the full sun. Watered daily. Commonly found for sale locally as the "Sword Fern" in the gardening departments of stores such as Orchard Supply Hardware.

Native to the USA (Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, and Louisiana), Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

I grow 2 of these plants, in large urns. They get late afternoon sun, and they do wonderful. The fronds were damaged in the winter, from the few frosts we had, so I gave them a haircut, and I suspect they'll bounce back nicely once the weather improves here.

The long things are runners, and you are correct...they do make baby plants when they touch the ground (usually this only occurs outdoors or in a greenhouse, not where there is a single plant with no dirt around...depends on how often you dust that Welsh dresser, LOL).

We have a large specimen of this plant which thrives on the top of a Welsh dresser in our south facing lounge, although it is never in full sunlight. It is watered and fed once a week and is never allowed to dry out. Apart from the profusion of fronds it also has long tendrils which seem not to have a purpose; this cannot be, so does anyone know what they are there for? Perhaps because in the wild it spreads easily they are a natural means of propogation.
Tedlester

It spreads aggressively by underground runners in moist, partly to mostly shady sites in Central Florida. It can be invasive and take over the groundcover of natural forested wetlands. I planted a few sprigs one year ago and now I have a dense ground cover of this fern. I don't mind the invasiveness as it is very easy to pull up when it grows past where I want it. Probably the easiest fern to use to form a continuous fern ground cover layer in central Florida.

This plant likes a moist but not soggy, soil, rich in organic matter. It is the most drought tolerant of the commonly cultivated ferns, but it thrives only under conditions of high humidity. It makes a good ground cover for the north side of the house or under shade trees where little else will grow. Under favorable conditions, it will spread by underground runners.