Great Fern Diplazium expansum
Previously known as:
- Asplenium expansum
- Diplazium bonapartii
- Diplazium marattiifolium
- Phonetic Spelling
- dy-PLAY-zee-um EX-pan-sum
- Description
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Great fern is a perennial plant in the spleenwort family (Aspleniaceae). Its origin is Mexico, Central America, northern South America and islands in the Caribbean. The great fern has an erect growth habit and grows large. It is found along stream banks, rocky ravines and glades at high elevations
It prefers a half-shady situation on moist soil with a sandy loam substrate. The loamy, organic matter soil needs good drainage. It requires high humidity and indirect light.
This fern is not hardy outside the tropics and must be grown as a houseplant or conservatory subject here in North Carolina.
VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Diplazium
- Species:
- expansum
- Family:
- Aspleniaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico, Tropical Americas
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Deltoid
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenulate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Green fronds are up to 38 inches long. 8-12 pairs of pinnules (leaflets) are alternate to sub alternate and may or may not be stalked with crenulate to entire margins. The sori are light brown and on the undersides of the fronds.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Water Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
