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Great Fern Diplazium expansum

Previously known as:

  • Asplenium allantodioides
Phonetic Spelling
dy-PLAY-zee-um EX-pan-sum
Description

Great fern is found along stream banks, rocky ravines and glades at high elevations in tropical Americas. It prefers a half-shady situation on moist soil with a sandy loam substate.

VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.

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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fern#stream banks#deer resistant#pond garden#evergreen ferns#partial shade tolerant#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fern#stream banks#deer resistant#pond garden#evergreen ferns#partial shade tolerant#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Diplazium
    Species:
    expansum
    Family:
    Aspleniaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Mexico, Tropical America
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Deer
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Fern
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers.
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Riparian
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Shade Garden
    Water Garden
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer