Nephrolepis cordifolia

Non-Native to Florida

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Sword fern

• Introduction
• Description
• Impacts
• Management
  • Preventative
  • Cultural
  • Mechanical
  • Biological
  • Chemical
• Notes on Herbicides
• References
• View Management Plan as PDF (194 KB)
• View Presentation on this Species:
  • Powerpoint format (PPT 15 MB)
  • Adobe PDF format (PDF 983 KB)
• More Resources

Introduction

Florida is host to many non-native species, both plant and animal in origin. Nephrolepis cordifolia, or sword fern, is a plant that was introduced most likely for its ornamental attributes. In 23 counties from the Gainesville area south, specimens of sword fern have been found and documented. Now considered a Category I invasive species, sword fern has made its presence known and continues to spread across Florida.

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Description

Nephrolepis cordifolia is a wood fern that typically grows in woodland areas. Both fertile and sterile fronds are pinnate, up to 3 feet in length and 2.8 inches wide. There are many leaflets, or pinnae, ranging from 40-100 on each side of rachis. Each pinna is oblong to lanceolate with an auricle that overlaps rachis. Rhizomes are orange/brown to pale brown with linear scales having hair like tips. Stolons are straw colored and produce small underground tubers. The presence of tubers distinguishes sword fern from the native Nephrolepis exaltata fern. Numerous sori (spore containing structures) are also produced between the leaflet midvein and margin. Dispersal occurs via spores and through the movement of stolons, tubers, and rhizomes.

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Impacts

The sword fern poses a threat on native species. Through its aggressive spread, sword fern is able to form dense stands and quickly displace native vegetation. Because it is a true fern, it reproduces via spores. Thousands of spores can be produced by one plant and these can be dispersed by wind and water. Spore production occurs year-round in south Florida.

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Management

 

Preventative:

The first step in preventative control of sword fern is to limit planting and removal of existing plants within the landscape. If possible, removal should occur before spores are produced.

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Cultural:

Plant native or non-invasive alternatives. Inform the public to refrain from purchasing, propagating, or planting sword fern due to its ability to escape from cultivation. Avoid transport of spores from one area to the next via people, vehicles and other equipment.

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Mechanical:

Hand pulling can be used to remove some of the fern plants, but the plants will break off, leaving plant parts in the ground from which regrowth will occur. Be sure to dispose of plants properly.

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Biological:

There are no known biological agents for the control of sword fern.

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Chemical:  

Plants can be killed with herbicides containing glyphosate. A foliar application of a 1.5% solution provides good control. Follow-up applications are necessary to control plants regrowing from rhizomes and tubers.

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References and Useful Links:

University of Florida’s Cooperative Extension Electronic Data Information Source

Langeland, K.A. and K. Craddock Burks. 1998. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville. 165 pp.

The Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group. Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas

Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER). Plant Threats to Pacific Ecosystems

Invasive Plants of the Eastern United States

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Plants Database

Langeland, K. A. 2001. Natural Area Weeds: Distinguishing Native and Non-Native "Boston Ferns" and "Sword Ferns" (Nephrolepis spp.). EDIS Publication SS-AGR-22. Agronomy Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

 

Excerpted from the University of Florida, IFAS Extension, Circular 1529, Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida, 2008 by:

Greg MacDonald, Associate Professor Jay Ferrell, Assistant Professor and Extension Weed Specialist
Brent Sellers, Assistant Professor and Extension Weed Specialist
Ken Langeland, Professor and Extension Weed Specialist Agronomy Department, Gainesville and Range Cattle REC, Ona
Tina Duperron-Bond, DPM – Osceola County
Eileen Ketterer-Guest, former Graduate Research Assistant


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More Resources:

See more information and pictures about tuberous sword fern, as contained in the Langeland/Burks book, Identification & Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas.

For more information about Nephrolepis, download this UF/IFAS-EDIS publication, Natural Areas Weeds: Distinguishing Native and Non-Native "Boston Ferns" and "Sword Ferns" (Nephrolepis spp.) by K.A. Langeland.

See the UF/IFAS Assessment, which lists plants according to their invasive status in Florida.

View the herbarium specimen image of the University of Florida Herbarium Digital Imaging Projects.

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