Sword Fern vs Boston Fern: Key Differences Between Two Popular Houseplants
Ferns are having a major moment right now as one of the most popular houseplants. With their lush, graceful fronds, it’s easy to see why these woodland beauties are in such high demand. Two of the most popular ferns grown as houseplants are the sword fern and the Boston fern. Although they look quite similar at first glance, there are some notable differences between these two plants. Keep reading to learn more about how to tell sword ferns and Boston ferns apart and pick the right one for your home.
What is a Sword Fern?
The sword fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) is native to tropical regions of the Americas. In the wild sword ferns grow in humid forests and along stream banks. Their long upright fronds resemble swords, giving the fern its common name. Sword ferns can reach towering heights of 5-6 feet in their natural habitat but are more compact when grown indoors, typically staying under 3 feet tall and wide.
Sword ferns have long, arching fronds that start off growing upright but bend gracefully as they mature. The fronds are lined with leaflets called pinnae arranged in an alternating pattern along the central rachis. Sword ferns are easy to identify by the hairy scales along the rachis and the round sori (spore clusters) lining the underside of each pinna.
Caring for sword ferns indoors is relatively easy. They thrive in bright, indirect light and high humidity. Let the soil dry out slightly between waterings to prevent root rot. Sword ferns also benefit from regular misting and being placed on a pebble tray to boost humidity.
What is a Boston Fern?
The Boston fern is also a variety of Nephrolepis exaltata. It is technically the same species as the sword fern but has been cultivated to produce longer, more dramatically arching fronds. In their native tropical habitat, Boston ferns can reach heights over 5 feet tall but typically max out under 3 feet when grown as houseplants.
Like the sword fern, Boston ferns have long, arching fronds lined with alternating leaflets. The key difference is that Boston ferns lack the hairy rachis and round sori of true sword ferns. Their fronds also arch more dramatically, cascading downwards when mature. This gives Boston ferns a gracefully weeping appearance.
Boston ferns need similar care to sword ferns – bright, indirect light, high humidity, and moist but not soggy soil. Let the surface dry out between waterings and mist the fronds regularly. Boston ferns can be prone to brown, crispy leaf tips if the air becomes too dry.
Key Differences Between Sword Ferns and Boston Ferns
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s recap the key differences between sword ferns and Boston ferns:
-
Frond shape: Sword fern fronds grow upright at first then gracefully arch downward. Boston ferns have more dramatically weeping fronds.
-
Pinnae and rachis: Sword fern pinnae attach to a hairy rachis. Boston ferns lack the hairy rachis.
-
Sori: Round brown sori dot the undersides of sword fern pinnae. Sori are absent on Boston ferns.
-
Height: In the wild, sword ferns grow larger, sometimes up to 7 feet tall. Indoor Boston ferns tend to max out under 3 feet.
-
Origin: Sword ferns are native to tropical forests. Boston ferns were cultivated as a houseplant variety.
Choosing Between Sword Fern and Boston Fern
If you’re trying to decide between these two elegant ferns, here are a few factors to consider:
-
Space: If you have a large area to fill, a sword fern may grow larger and make more of an impact. For smaller spaces, a Boston fern is a better fit.
-
Look: Boston ferns have a more dramatically weeping shape, while sword ferns have straighter, upright fronds. Choose based on the aesthetic you prefer.
-
Light: Boston ferns adapt better to lower light conditions inside the home. If your space is dim, a Boston fern is the safer bet.
-
Humidity: Both ferns require high humidity. Be prepared to mist and use pebble trays to prevent dried out foliage.
No matter which of these graceful ferns you choose, they make an excellent addition to indoor plant collections. Just be sure to provide the right growing conditions and your sword fern or Boston fern will reward you with lush, vibrant foliage.
WHAT IS A TROPICAL FERN?
Technically a tropical fern is any fern that will not survive the winter outdoors in your climate. Most houseplant ferns are tropical ferns, but for the purposes of this article, we’ll only use the term “tropical fern” to refer to three types that are often used outside in the warmer months: Boston Ferns, Macho Ferns, and Kimberley Queen Ferns. Why are these ferns unique? All three of them LOVE humidity, can get very big, and do best outside in the summer on a covered patio or porch. These varieties can be brought indoors over winter, but some do better than others (more info below).
What else makes them unique? We grow these ferns from tiny plugs to huge statement pieces over the course of six months so that they are ready for customers every spring. You might be surprised to learn that our production team starts the process in July by transplanting almost 5,000 1-inch baby ferns! Being involved in every step of the growing process gives us a unique ability to tell you everything that has touched these ferns and guarantee that they were grown with love. Plus, since they are grown locally, we don’t have to worry about carrying fully grown plants across long distances. Though getting thousands of ferns to maturity and hanging from the greenhouse ceiling is no easy feat!.
But how do you know which tropical fern to choose?
WHICH TROPICAL FERN IS RIGHT FOR ME?
Common Names: Boston Fern
Scientific Name: Nephrolepis exaltata
Mature Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide
Sun Exposure: Partial shade/dappled shade
Soil Type: Moist, well-drained
Hardiness Zone: 10 to 12 (USDA)
Native Area: Americas, Africa, Polynesia
These ferns are by far our best-known and most-loved. If you’ve ever seen a picture of Painters Greenhouse with rows and rows of ferns on the ceiling, those are probably Boston Ferns. Every year, we grow over 4,000 of them.
When you think of hanging porch ferns, these are probably what comes to mind. They need to stay evenly moist, can’t stand direct sun but do well in medium to bright indirect light, and can grow to be two to three feet wide. They have been used as decorations since Victorian times, but because they shed so easily, we keep them on the porch during the warmer months and treat them as annuals instead of bringing them inside.
These ferns do well in hanging baskets and plant stands because they are bushy and have soft, weeping fronds that will cover their container. Dont be fooled, this variety of fern is not native to Boston. It is native to tropical regions of South America, Mexico, Africa, and Polynesia. Thriving in humid forests and swamps, it definitely would not survive a snowy New England winter!.
Common Name: Macho Fern, Broad Sword Fern
Scientific Name: Nephrolepis biserrata
Mature Size: 3-4 ft. tall/long, up to 6 ft. wide
Sun Exposure: Partial sun to shade
Soil Type: Moist but well-draining
Hardiness Zones: 9a-10b
Native Area: Florida
The name says it all—these big guys like bright morning light and can get up to 4 feet long and 5 to 6 feet wide! Their fronds look thicker and leatherier, and they shine like shiny metal. Together, their size and shape make quite a statement.
The smaller leaflets of a Boston Fern look shaggy and have serrated edges. The leaflets of a Macho Fern are smoother, shinier, and don’t have serrated edges. They can also tolerate more sun than a Boston Fern (but still do not like direct, intense sun). They may not shed as much, but it may still be hard for them to spend the winter in your home without extra humidity.
Common Names: Kimberley Queen Fern, Kimberly Queen, Kim Queen Fern
Scientific Name: Nephrolepis obliterata
Mature Size: 2–3 ft. tall, 2–4 ft. wide
Sun Exposure: Sun to part shade
Soil Type: Moist, well-drained
Hardiness Zones: 9–11 (USDA)
Native Area: Australia
This fern has more of an upright growth habit and is especially well-suited to porch pots. Which of the three ferns is best for an indoor plant? This one, because it sheds little and does well indoors over the winter. Kimberley Queen ferns can also live in very little light, making them the most light-tolerant of the plants on this list.
Kimberley Queen Ferns have more rigid, upright fronds and are perfect in pots flanking a pathway or entrance.
Differentiating The 3 Most Popular Ferns
FAQ
Is Boston fern the same as sword fern?
Can sword ferns take full sun?
What are sword ferns good for?
Is sword fern an indoor or outdoor plant?