Anyone have any suggestions for tropical looking ferns (I really liked the look of the ostrich fern) that will survive/thrive in the south-east? I live in zone 9a Florida (at least 99.9% of the time )

-Krishna

Anyone have any suggestions for tropical looking ferns (I really liked the look of the ostrich fern) that will survive/thrive in the south-east? I live in zone 9a Florida (at least 99.9% of the time )

-Krishna

Dicksonia antartica tree fern

For something very tropical-loooking and unbelievably cold-hardy and evergreen, try Dryopteris sieboldii. It is fantastic! It didn't flinch through these horrible freezes here. Large, luxurious fronds that mix well with just about anything else tropical. From Taiwan and southern China, so it loves heat and humidity but doesn't mind freezing weather in the least.

I put together a more complete list of some other good evergreen examples from southeast Asia with a very nice, tropical look:

Polystichum polyblepharum; and also Arachnoides simplicior variegata, plus the old standby Autumn fern, Dryopteris erythrosora. I also love the "shaggy shield fern," Dryopteris atrata (cycadina). And of course don't forget Polypodium polypodioides (resurrection fern) to put all over your live oaks or any other surface to which they'll adhere! There are good vendors in Oregon and Washington (Big Dipper Farms, Forestfarm, Cistus) who sell these and lots of interesting ferns, many of which love southeastern heat and have a tropical effect. I'm still trying to find a hardy, big polypody like Phlebodium aureum or pseudoaureum: Despite claims of vendors, I have never been able to get one of these through a hard freeze here. Yet I've seen them on the trunks of Sabal palms in the Florida panhandle where they surely are subjected to low 20s every year or two. Also, Adiantum hispidulum (rosy maidenhair fern) I think is very beautiful and has a tropical effect, but seems to go deciduous below about 25F.

heres a few that grow well here so are heat tolerant but also cold tolerant;

Adiantum pedatum

Arachniodes simplicior 'Variegata'

Microlepsis strigosa

Osmunda regalis (FL native)

Pyrrosia lingua

Thelypteris kunthii (FL native)

Thanks all! I'll look in to these!

-Krishna

I grow Diplazium esculentum here in wet places, Ctenitus sloanei as well ---- Other ferns are Losphoria quadripinnatia

The regular Cyatheas will grow here but I never got on larger than 6 feet on account of termites.

Best regards

Ed

I actually have a cyathea cooperi that is taller than my head (Im about 6'). The cold burns it back every year but it comes back strong when the weather warms up!

-Krishna