PlantFiles: Australian Sword Fern
Nephrolepis obliterata 'Kimberly Queen'

We asked at the nursery for a fern that could take sun and was told Kimberly Queen would. We planted two in pots at my front door where they get the hot afternoon sun. That was 6 years ago and the same ferns are still going strong. We've never moved them and I only water when I think about it, about once a week at the most.

Then 4 yrs. ago, when we landscaped the back yard, we bought 2 more and cut them in half. They get morning sun and afternoon shade. But now they have spread over my giant liriope and a camelia bush. We pulled some out and planted it in other parts of the beds and now it is trying to take over the whole yard. We are constantly pulling it out and giving it away. In south Louisiana, I would plant it only where you don't care if it spreads or at least where you can easily keep it under control.

A friend gave us this plant in spring 2008. We hung it on the east side of a laurel oak and it gets filtered eastern and southern light. Does fine with two soakings a week. Dries out quickly if you skip a watering. Seems to have survived several hours of about 30° a few nights ago.

A GREAT plant!! Easily divided....I bought a couple of large pots at a Walmart clearance sale...took them home and used my butcher knife to divide each root ball into quarters...stuck in the ground, added a little mulch...one year later they are as big as the originals....have done nothing but water them....mostly in the shade with a couple of hours of afternoon Texas sun....even look good in winter!

This is a great plant! I have it outside, along the house, and it gets afternoon sun, and regular water.. It doesnt really spread (well to me, have had it in the ground 4 years) It stays really really close to the house, and does really erect forward! A very nice choice, looks good all year round. Fertalize with 30-10-10, when not dark green! That will correct the problem, might need to fertalize twice a month if you can! Other wise a great non invasive plant, unlike my ivy! Hahaha

Australian sword fern has so far proven itself to be a tough and adaptable plant in my garden (NW Houston, borderline zone 8/9). I have several of these ferns planted under two pine trees in my backyard. They get morning sun, the rest of the day is filtered shade. They are spreading out rapidly (little runners up to a foot away from the mother plant). Summers temps have been around 100 degrees, high humidity - they seem to have no problem taking the heat. I've accidentally let them dry out, and I've noticed very little shriveling. Very forgiving plants. We'll see how they do in the winter, but it rarely freezes here. If it does, it lasts a short time.

This is the everlast fern where I grew up in Texas (Houston) Clumps of this delicate looking fern would be all that was left of abandonded lots under the shade trees. What I like about this fern is that it can maintain a healthy look even in freezes of up to two hours. I find it is good at breaking out of all but metal pots.

I've only had these a month, but so far they're terrific! I put them in two large terra cotta pots at the front end of my porch where they get all day shade and evening sun. I water them every few days, right after they get fairly dried out (but NOT completely dry), being sure to wet them down thoroughly ~ soil, plant and all.