Sword Fern is a perennial grown for its brown blooms, which open in summer and return year after year. It's hardy across USDA zones 4 through 10 and shrugs off deer.
Zones
4-10
pH Range
5.8-7.5
Sun
Part Sun
Days to Maturity
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Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether sword fern actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score sword fern against your land's real conditions.
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What Sword Fern is
Sword Fern grows as a perennial and reaches around four feet at maturity. It blooms brown in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Sword Fern
Sword Fern grows in USDA zones 4 through 10. Sword Fern does best in part sun — at least 4 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.8 to 7.5, on consistently moist ground.
USDA Zones
4-10
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.8 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Part Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
poorly (saturated >50% of year)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
-33°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
4 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
0+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant sword fern in part sun with at least 4 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Sword Fern prefers pH 5.8 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Harvest at its peak
Cut sword fern blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — sword fern isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Sword Fern isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where Sword Fern thrives
Sword Fern is hardy across USDA zones 4 through 10. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 4–10·Where Sword Fern growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Sword Fern can grow in these states:
See if Sword Fern will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether sword fern actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Sword Fern in my zone?
Sword Fern grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 10 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Sword Fern?
Most growers plant sword fern after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Sword Fern need?
Sword Fern does well in partial sun — around 4 hours of direct sun, and it takes some afternoon shade in stride. That flexibility makes it a good match for a bed the house or a nearby tree shades for part of the day. A Growable Ground report maps how the sun actually falls on your land, hour by hour, so you can set it where the light lines up.
What soil does Sword Fern need?
Sword Fern prefers soil pH 5.8 to 7.5, on consistently moist ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Sword Fern attract pollinators?
Sword Fern isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Sword Fern safe for pets?
Sword Fern is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.