Macho Ferns, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
For shaded beds and patios, macho fern is a big, bold fern with long arching fronds that does well in Southwest Florida. It wants part to full shade and steady moisture, and it fills in fast. We deliver and plant 1 and 3 gallon plants.
- Light:
- Part shade to full shade; morning sun only
- Water:
- Regular; keep the soil moist
- Salt:
- Low to moderate; keep out of direct salt spray
Macho 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 |
|---|---|
| Macho Fern | 3 Gallon, 1 Gallon |
Macho Fern in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 2 to 4 ft tall and about 3 to 4 ft wide
- Light
- Part shade to full shade; morning sun only
- Water
- Regular; keep the soil moist
- Salt tolerance
- Low to moderate; keep out of direct salt spray
- Cold tolerance
- Fronds burn around 32°F and regrow from the base; cover inland plants on frost nights
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast
- Spacing
- 3 ft apart for a mass planting
- Florida native
- Yes, a selection of the native giant sword fern
- Botanical name
- Nephrolepis biserrata 'Macho'
Where Macho Fern works in a SW Florida yard
Macho fern fills shaded beds with tall, arching fronds, so use it under oaks and palms, along a north-facing wall or in a covered patio bed where little else thrives. Plant it in groups of three or more for a full, lush mass, or one per large pot at an entry.
Philodendron, cast iron plant and bromeliads share its shade and water needs, and Boston fern makes a softer front edge.
- Shaded bed filler
- Understory under trees
- Large patio containers
- Lush tropical backdrop
How our crew plants it
Plant the crown level with the soil, in a hole twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper. Our crew backfills and waters it in, then cleans up. Space plants 3 ft apart. Sandy beds hold moisture better with a little compost mixed in and 2 inches of mulch kept off the crowns.
Lee and Collier rules allow extra watering for new plantings.
Care after planting
- Keep the soil evenly moist, because ferns brown quickly when they dry out; mulch, and water on your assigned days, using the extra watering allowed for new plantings.
- Ferns burn easily if overfed, so a light dose of slow-release fertilizer in spring and early fall is enough, with none containing nitrogen or phosphorus from June 1 to September 30.
- Keep it out of hot afternoon sun, which bleaches and crisps the fronds.
- Cut back cold-burned fronds after frost danger has passed, and let new fronds come up from the base.
What to watch for
- Scale and mealybugs can settle on the undersides of fronds and caterpillars sometimes chew them, so check now and then.
Macho Fern questions we hear
Does macho fern grow in full shade?+
Yes. It does best in part to full shade and fills in well under trees and along north-facing walls. A little morning sun is fine, but hot afternoon sun bleaches and scorches the fronds, and dry spells crisp the tips.
How is macho fern different from Boston fern?+
Macho fern is larger and bolder, with longer, broader fronds that stand more upright, while Boston fern is finer and more weeping. Both want shade and steady moisture, so pick by the look you want: Macho for a bold backdrop, Boston for a soft edge.
How often should I water a new macho fern?+
Keep the root ball moist from the day it goes in, using the extra watering Lee and Collier allow for new plantings, then follow your two assigned days a week once it is established. Mulch helps, and the soil should feel damp but never soggy.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Macho 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.