• Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Phlebodium aureum

golden polypody fern

Nomenclature

Common Name:

golden polypody fern

Synonym(s):

Polypodium aureum

Genus species:

Phlebodium aureum

Family:

Polypodiaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

fern

Size:

2 ft tall by 2 ft wide, spreads slowly by rhisomes

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Evergreen fern reproducing by spores.

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Typically epiphytic (on trees). Interesting grown in the boots (old leaf bases) of cabbage palm. Can also be grown in soil or on rock as part of a shade or fern garden.

Considerations:

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Availability:

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Propagation:

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Light:

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Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Epiphytic

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

Ecology

Wildlife:

Native Habitats:

Hammocks. Epiphytic on cabbage palm. Occasionally in humus at ground level.

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

This is a native that makes Florida look tropical.



Herbarium specimens from Leon County say that the fern was likely brought in.  Otherwise, the northern locations appear to be coastal, and likely that should be considered when considering this species.  The entire peninsula appears to be appropriate habitat.