Is a Boston Fern the Same As a Sword Fern?

Sword Fern

• Commonly called the sword fern, Boston fern or wild Boston fern (Nephrolepis exalta), this fern grows erect, tufted clusters of fronds that are 6 inches wide and up to 3 feet long. Sword fern likes moist, shady sites. You can grow it under the shade of tall shrubs or trees with a broad canopy or on the north side of your house. You might want to grow it on garden pedestals or in hanging baskets either indoors or on a patio. You can grow it in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. If a frost kills a sword fern in the winter, it will grow back in the spring.

Boston Fern

• The fern best called Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata “Bostoniensis”) is a hybrid cultivar of sword fern. Boston fern grows up to 3 feet tall spreading 3 feet wide, and you can grow it outdoors in USDA plant hardiness 10 to 12. University of Florida IFAS Extension calls this fern the “classic” indoor fern. It grows gracefully up and flows to all sides in a hanging basket, making it an attractive, low-maintenance indoor plant. It will grow in bright, indirect light with no sunlight. If you grow it outdoors, remember it prefers moist soil.

Western Sword Fern

• On the West Coast, the Western sword fern or California sword fern (Polystichum munitum) grows naturally in the shade of coastal forests from southeast Alaska to Baja California and can be grown in USDA zones 5 through 10. It prefers full shade and its fronds can radiate up to 3 feet tall with a spread of 6 feet. Western sword fern is extensively used in landscaping, floral displays and funeral wreaths, many of which are exported to Europe.

Scientific Names

• Ferns called sword or Boston may be just as graceful, but it's important to understand which you can grow. If you’re confused by a plant bearing the same or several common names, learning its scientific name is essential to finding what it’s all about. Each scientific word describes a specific plant. The first word, capitalized, is the genus. The second word is the species. The species name may be followed by var. meaning variety, a naturally occurring mutation. The species may also be followed by cv. meaning cultivar or by a name enclosed in quotation marks. Both of these indicate a cultivar, a plant bred for its specific traits.