Giant Leather Fern
Acrostichum danaeifolium
Traits
Varieties We Bring In
Last received Jul 16, 2026.
We bring this in seasonally, so what is on the lot changes week to week. A received date shows when it last came in, not that it is here today.
Call (904) 471-0440 to confirm this plant and size before you make the trip.
About Giant Leather Fern
Acrostichum danaeifolium, giant leather fern, is one of the largest ferns in the world, native to coastal wetlands from Florida through tropical America, with bold, upright fronds that can exceed 10 feet in height. A native Florida species adapted to brackish and freshwater margins, it forms dramatic clumps in wet, tropical landscapes. Starting at $14.95.
Plant details
- Bloom Season
- Non-flowering
- Flower Color
- Non-flowering
- Growth Rate
- Moderate
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Soil
- Loam, Acidic, Wet
Best planting months
Seasonal care
Good planting window.
Higher water demand in summer heat.
Ideal planting window.
Retains foliage through winter.
Care essentials
Giant Leather Fern tolerates full sun to part shade; in NE Florida it grows naturally in open wetlands and mangrove margins in full sun, but adapts to partially shaded moist areas equally well.
Requires consistently wet to saturated soil; ideal for pond edges, low-lying rain gardens, and freshwater to brackish wetland margins. This Florida native is not drought-tolerant and must not be allowed to dry out.
Thrives in mucky, organic-rich, acidic wet soils native to NE Florida's coastal and inland wetlands. No fertilizer is needed in natural wetland settings; in landscape use, a light application of slow-release fertilizer in spring supports vigorous growth.
Similar needs
Southern Wood Fern
Shares 4 of the same needs: shade, high water, loam, and zone 9a hardiness.
Alligator Flag
Shares 4 of the same needs: full sun, high water, loam, and zone 9a hardiness.
American Hornbeam
Shares 4 of the same needs: full sun, high water, loam, and zone 9a hardiness.
American Snowbell
Shares 4 of the same needs: full sun, high water, loam, and zone 9a hardiness.
Bushy Bluestem
Shares 4 of the same needs: full sun, high water, loam, and zone 9a hardiness.
Buttonbush
Shares 4 of the same needs: full sun, high water, loam, and zone 9a hardiness.
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Common questions
Is Giant Leather Fern a good plant for St. Augustine?
Giant Leather Fern is a fern for Zone 9b coastal Florida gardens, reaching 6-12 feet × 5-10 feet.
Care information verified from
Last reviewed March 2026. Our care guidance comes from trusted horticulture sources and decades of helping St. Augustine gardeners. Conditions here can vary dramatically from one area to the next, so come ask us and we'll tailor it to your yard.