Pleopeltis lepidopteris 'Morro dos Conventos'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- plee-oh-PEL-tiss leh-pi-DOP-ter-is
- Description
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The Brazilian Hairy Sword Fern is a cultivar of Pleopeltis lepidopteris, a perennial fern and rhizomatous geophyte (that is, a plant with an underground, horizontal stem and uses that stem to store water and nutrients). The parent plant is native of Southern Brazil, Uraguay, and Paraguay, while the cultivar is native to Morro dos Conventos beach in Brazil (hence the common name). At maturity, Brazilian Hairy Sword Fern will grow to 2 feet high with upright fronds covered in silver hair, shedding the hair and turning greenish-blue as the plant ages.
Brazilian Hairy Sword Fern does best in full sun, rocky, acidic soil and will tolerate partial sun and sandy soils. It does not need much water and, once established, will tolerate drought. The plant is cold hardy and can tolerate temperatures down to 7 degrees F. The plant will spread slowly by means or rhizomes
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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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pleopeltis
- Species:
- lepidopteris
- Family:
- Polypodiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern Brazil
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Erect
- Spreading
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruit. This plant 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:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Fronds
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Upright fronds, 2 feet high and 2 inches wide, covered in thick silver hair that thins and turns blueish-green over time.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Rock Wall
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
