Wart Fern, Delivered and Planted for Shade in SW Florida
Wart fern is a glossy, textured fern for SW Florida shade, but FLEPPC lists it as a Category I invasive in South Florida, so it belongs in a pot or a contained bed. It grows slowly to moderately, wants regular moisture and burns in direct sun. We deliver and plant 1 and 3 gallon sizes.
- Light:
- Part to full shade; direct sun scorches the fronds
- Water:
- Regular; keep evenly moist
- Salt:
- Low to moderate; keep it out of direct salt spray
Wart 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 |
|---|---|
| Wart Fern | 1 Gallon, 3 Gallon |
Wart Fern in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 12 to 18 in. tall, spreading steadily by creeping stems
- Light
- Part to full shade; direct sun scorches the fronds
- Water
- Regular; keep evenly moist
- Salt tolerance
- Low to moderate; keep it out of direct salt spray
- Cold tolerance
- Frost tender: fronds burn near 32°F; coastal Lee is usually fine, cover plants inland on frost nights
- Growth rate
- Slow to moderate, then spreads steadily once established
- Spacing
- 18 to 24 in. on center
- Florida native
- No, native to tropical Asia and the Pacific
- Botanical name
- Microsorum grossum (also sold as Phymatosorus scolopendria)
Where Wart Fern works in a SW Florida yard
Wart fern adds glossy, bumpy texture under oaks, along north walls and in shaded courtyards. Because it spreads by creeping stems, give it a pot or a bed edged with pavers, curbing or a wall, well away from preserves and canal banks. Cast iron plant, philodendron and bromeliads share its shade and stay in their own space.
- Contained shade beds
- Pots and planters
- Textured tropical foliage
How our crew plants it
Plant in part to full shade in loose, compost-rich soil, with the root ball level with the soil and the creeping stems on or just under the surface. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart inside the edged bed or pot. Mulch and water in. Lee and Collier allow extra watering on new plantings; taper once it is rooted.
Care after planting
- Keep the soil evenly moist, and in the dry season water on your assigned days with a little extra for new plantings.
- Cut back creeping stems that cross the edge of the bed, and bag all trimmings for the trash instead of dumping them.
- Feed lightly in spring and early fall with a slow-release fertilizer, and skip nitrogen and phosphorus from June 1 to September 30 in Lee County, Naples and Marco Island.
- Cover plants on frost nights if you are inland, and cut off burned fronds after cold danger passes.
What to watch for
- FLEPPC lists wart fern as a Category I invasive in South Florida, where it escapes into hammocks and mangroves, and UF/IFAS advises caution for central and south Florida, so keep it in a pot or hard-edged bed, bag the trimmings, and use native ferns such as macho fern in open beds.
- Direct sun, dry soil and cold nights scorch the fronds, so the right spot matters more than extra water.
Wart Fern questions we hear
Is wart fern invasive in Florida?+
Yes, in South Florida. FLEPPC lists wart fern as a Category I invasive, meaning it displaces native plants in natural areas such as hammocks and mangroves, and UF/IFAS advises caution in central and south Florida. In a yard it can be kept in check in a pot or edged bed, with trimmings bagged.
Does wart fern grow in sun or shade?+
Shade. Wart fern wants part to full shade and regular moisture, and direct sun scorches the fronds. It does well under oaks, on the north side of the house and in shaded courtyards, but it is not a plant for hot, open beds.
What can I plant instead of wart fern?+
For open shaded beds, native ferns such as macho fern are a good swap, and cast iron plant fills deep shade and stays put. Wart fern still works in a pot or a walled bed. Choose by light, space and how much cleanup you are willing to do.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Wart 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.