Resurrection Fern

Pleopeltis polypodioides

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found on tree limbs and trunks (especially when leaning) in a wide variety of forest types, especially southwards, and less typically (but not uncommonly) on rocks. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

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Not scored

Native status unresolved in Arkansas. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 47%

Light: Partial shade, Full shade, Full sun
Soil moisture: Dry

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At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial

Not yet recorded · Height · Spread · Leaves

This plant is missing most of its facts, so Quercus is looking them up in old botany books.

Recorded in 41 Arkansas counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Forests and woodlands

Forest or woodland where the source does not say how moist or dry.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

3CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AR

Genus host records with ranges including AR · Polypodium

Callopistria floridensisFlorida Fern Caterpillar
Melanchra pictaPainted Arches, Zebra Caterpillar Moth
Spodoptera latifasciaOrange-Striped Armyworm, Velvet Armyworm Moth

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Polypodiaceae
Flower color: Not applicable

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Flower color · “Not applicable” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Life cycle · “Perennial” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Light · “Partial shade; Full shade; Full sun (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Soil · “Dry (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia

Also known as

Pleopeltis polypodioides; Polypodium polypodioides; fern

Conservation status

Arkansas rank	SNR
Global rank	G5
AR status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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Sources