Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Nephrolepis cordifolia
Sword Fern
Of all the ferns used in landscape work, Nephrolepis cordifolia is the one that will actually take the conditions. Narrow upright fronds, tolerance of poor soil and low light, and small underground tubers that carry it through dry spells make it far tougher than it looks.
It runs on stolons and colonises quickly, which is the point of it as a cover plant and the problem with it near natural bushland. It is a listed environmental weed in Florida, Hawaii, South Africa and parts of eastern Australia.
Specifications
- Height0.4 to 1 metre
- WidthSpreading indefinitely by stolons
- Native toTropical and subtropical Asia, Australia and the Pacific
- FoliageNarrow, upright, once-pinnate fronds in fresh green; evergreen
- Growth rateFast
Conditions
- SoilGrows on almost any free-draining soil, including poor, shallow and rocky ground
- LightPartial to deep shade, and full sun in humid climates
- WaterModerate; small underground tubers carry it through short dry periods
- ClimateThrives in tropical and humid subtropical regions and in conditioned interiors
Additional Features
- UsesShade ground cover under canopy, bank stabilisation, planters, hanging displays and interior schemes
- SpacingPlant 4 to 6 per square metre for a closed cover within one season
- Low MaintenanceShear back tired fronds annually; the plant regenerates from its tubers
- Pest ResistanceGenerally trouble-free, though scale appears on dry interior plants
- Erosion ControlA dense stoloniferous root mass binds shaded banks quickly
- VersatilityWorks as ground cover, container plant, hanging subject and interior groundwork
The Sword Fern is the practical choice for shaded ground cover, provided the site can accept a plant that spreads on its own terms.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 09 September 2026