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Thelypteris kunthii (Wood fern)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Thelypteris kunthii (Desv.) Morton

Wood fern, River fern, Southern shield fern, Kunth's maiden fern

Thelypteridaceae (Maiden Fern Family)

Synonyms: Thelypteris normalis

USDA Symbol: thku

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

The gracefully arching fronds of this fern are lime to medium-green in color and grow 2 1/2-3 ft. high by 8-12 in. wide. The fronds reach in all directions from clusters of stalks occuring at intervals along the rhizome. The foliage is almost twice cut and the pinnae taper to a point. The species takes on a bronze cast as winter approaches.

Wood Fern can add texture to a shade garden throughout the year and is great for wetland and water garden habitat.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Fern
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Retention: Semi-evergreen
Size Notes: 2.5-3 ft, but can reach 5 ft
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Not Applicable
Bloom Notes: Not a flowering plant. Reproduces by spores.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , LA , MS , SC , TX
Native Distribution: SC to FL, w. to west TX and s. to Caribbean islands
Native Habitat: Swamps, canyons; stream banks; low woods; dripping limestone
USDA Native Status: L48(N), HI(I), PR(N), VI(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist sand, loam, clay, or limestone. Poor drainage okay.
Conditions Comments: West of east Texas, called River Fern because it is only found along or near bodies of water. East of central Texas, found in moist woods and called Wood Fern.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: A low maintenance groundcover fern for shade
Interesting Foliage: yes
Deer Resistant: High

Propagation

Propagation Material: Root Division
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Water during droughts. Cut back dead fronds before spring growth emerges.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Austin Shade Plants for Pots
March 28, 2010
I live in a condo in Austin Texas so I don't have any flower beds or yard space. I would like to put a few large pots of plants and flowers on my front patio but it's mostly shaded during the day. W...
view the full question and answer

Native plants for seasonal poor drainage
May 16, 2006
I have an area in my front yard that has a drainage ditch running through it. When it rains, that area stays very wet. What kind of plants available for sale will work in this situation?
view the full question and answer

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Native Plant Nursery - Sanibel, FL

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Native Plant Society of Texas - Fredericksburg, TX
NPSOT - Fredericksburg Chapter - Fredericksburg, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 1004 Collected Nov 4, 1994 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 281 - Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (1999) Diggs, G. M.; B. L. Lipscomb; B. O'Kennon; W. F...

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Thelypteris kunthii in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Thelypteris kunthii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Thelypteris kunthii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-03-18
Research By: LAL, JMS

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