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Release Date: 4/26/2026

Water Resources

Abstract

Bird’s nest fern is an epiphytic perennial with bright green leaves in a rosulate leaf arrangement, giving the appearance of a “bird’s nest.” It is an evergreen plant that is well suited as a specimen plant, used in a container or as a houseplant, or in the landscape as a groundcover or edging.

About this Publication

This document is FPS54, one of a series of the Department of Environmental Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date October 1999. Revised December 2025. Visit the Ask IFAS website at https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/ for the currently supported version of this publication.

Authors

Keighly Graves
Keighly Graves
staff
University of Florida

horticultural science specialist, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program

Wendy Wilber
Wendy Wilber
Specialist
University of Florida

state program coordinator and Extension agent IV, UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program

Tom Wichman
Tom Wichman
staff
University of Florida

Extension program manager, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program, UF/IFAS Center for Land Use Efficiency

Claire Lewis
Claire Lewis
Specialist
University of Florida

state specialized agent II and director Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program, UF/IFAS Center for Land Use Efficiency

Gail Hansen
Gail Hansen
Specialist
University of Florida

professor, sustainable landscape design, UF/IFAS Department of Horticultural Sciences

Ryan Klein
Ryan Klein
Specialist
University of Florida

assistant professor, arboriculture, UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences

Publication #FPS54