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Native Plant Society of Texas

Wood Fern

Thelypteris kunthii

River Fern, Southern Shield Fern, Kunth's Maiden Fern, Normal Shield Fern

Courtesy: Holmes, James Garland, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=47899
Courtesy: Holmes, James Garland, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=47899
Photo Credit: Cressler, Alan, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=40381
Photo Credit: Cressler, Alan, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=40381
NPSOT, NTX, NLCP Level 3, Marie-Theres Herz; Herbarium Sheet
NPSOT, NTX, NLCP Level 3, Marie-Theres Herz; Herbarium Sheet
NPSOT, NTX, NLCP Level 3, Marie-Theres Herz; Herbarium Sheet
NPSOT, NTX, NLCP Level 3, Marie-Theres Herz; Herbarium Sheet
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Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map (hover for ecoregion names)

Native Habitat: Woodland, Wetland or Riparian
East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain

Maintenance

Cut off dead fronds before spring growth begins. May be cut after 1st frost instead.

Comments

Gracefully arching stems. Colonizes by rhizomes. Low maintenance groundcover. Good foundation plant since it likes moist soil. More shade=lower water needs. Highly deer resistant. Provides habitat for beneficial insects.

Growth Form

Fern

Height

2 to
3 ft

Spread

2 to
3 ft

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Limestone, Poor Drainage, Moist

Light Requirement

Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Bloom Color

No Bloom

Bloom Season

No Bloom

Seasonal Interest

Fall Color

Wildlife Benefit

Unknown

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Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym/s: Dryopteris normalis, Dryopteris saxatilis, Thelypteris macrorhizoma, Thelypteris normalis, Thelypteris saxatilis, Thelypteris unca

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 109. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=THKU. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Thelypteris+kunthii&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=THKU, 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=17258#null, 7) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014.

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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