Kimberly Queen Ferns, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Kimberly Queen fern is an upright, full-fronded fern that does well in Southwest Florida shade and bright, filtered light. It stays tidy at 2 to 3 ft, which makes it a good fit for entries, shaded beds and large pots. It wants regular water and shelter from frost. We deliver and plant 1 and 3 gallon plants.
- Light:
- Part shade to shade; morning sun is fine
- Water:
- Regular; keep evenly moist
- Salt:
- Low; keep out of salt spray
Kimberly Queen Fern sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Kimberly Queen Fern | 1 Gallon, 3 Gallon |
Kimberly Queen Fern in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 2 to 3 ft tall and wide
- Light
- Part shade to shade; morning sun is fine
- Water
- Regular; keep evenly moist
- Salt tolerance
- Low; keep out of salt spray
- Cold tolerance
- Fronds burn in frost; cut back damaged fronds and it usually regrows
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 2 to 3 ft on center for a mass planting
- Florida native
- No
- Botanical name
- Nephrolepis obliterata
Where Kimberly Queen Fern works in a SW Florida yard
Kimberly Queen gives shade beds an upright, tidy fern shape that does not flop like a Boston fern. Use it under oaks and palms, on the north or east side of the house, or in a pair of large pots by the door.
For a mass, plant 2 to 3 ft apart. Good partners are Cast Iron Plant, Philodendron and Bromeliads, which share the same light and water.
- Shaded entry beds
- Under trees and eaves
- Hanging baskets and pots
- Foundation shade planting
How our crew plants it
Give it morning sun or bright shade. Set the plant level with the soil, crown not buried, in a hole twice as wide as the pot, and work a little compost into sandy backfill.
Water in well and mulch lightly. A new planting can be watered beyond the normal watering schedule in Lee and Collier, and a young fern should never dry out.
Care after planting
- Keep it evenly moist, because a fern that dries out drops fronds fast.
- Feed lightly in spring and early fall, since the summer ban on nitrogen and phosphorus runs June 1 to September 30 in Lee County, Naples and Marco Island.
- Trim old or frost-burned fronds at the base, and cut the whole plant back after a hard freeze.
- Mulch about 2 inches deep, kept off the crown.
What to watch for
- Hot afternoon sun and dry soil crisp the fronds, a common reason these ferns look rough in summer.
- Scale and mealybugs sometimes hide along the frond stems, so wipe or spray them off early.
Kimberly Queen Fern questions we hear
Can Kimberly Queen fern take full sun in Florida?+
Not all day. It tolerates more sun than a Boston fern, and morning sun is fine, but hot afternoon sun scorches the fronds in Southwest Florida. Part shade to shade is best. If you plant it in brighter light, keep the soil evenly moist and expect some browning in summer.
Will a Kimberly Queen fern come back after frost?+
Usually. Frost burns the fronds, but the crown often survives and sends up new fronds when it warms. Cut back the damaged fronds after the cold has passed. A hard freeze can kill one in an exposed spot, so inland lots in Lehigh Acres or North Fort Myers should plant under tree or eave cover.
Is Kimberly Queen fern good for pots and hanging baskets?+
Yes, it is a favorite for both because the fronds stay full and upright. Use a pot with drainage, keep it evenly moist and give it morning sun or bright shade. Pots dry out quickly in Southwest Florida's summer heat, so check them often. Planting in the ground needs less watering.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Kimberly Queen Fern
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
Also worth a look
We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.