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Marsh Fern

Thelypteris palustris

32
Good

Native to Louisiana (estimated). How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height
6 inches–2.5 feet
Light
Partial sun, Full sun
Soil moisture
Moderate, High
Will it fit your yard?

At a glance

Life cycle
Perennial

Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves

Recorded in 25 Louisiana parishes.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

6CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including LA

Genus host records with ranges including LA · Thelypteris

  • Callopistria floridensisFlorida Fern Caterpillar
  • Callopistria mollissimaPink-Shaded Fern Moth
  • Euplexia benesimilisAmerican Angle Shades
  • Fagitana litteraMarsh Fern Moth
  • Spodoptera latifasciaOrange-Striped Armyworm, Velvet Armyworm Moth
  • Herpetogramma theseusalis
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
0BeesSoutheastern regional records
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
1BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Thelypteris

  • Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

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

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Thelypteridaceae
Flower color
Not applicable

What its natural habitat tells you

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
  • Height · “6 inches–2.5 feet” · Minnesota Wildflowers
  • Life cycle · “Perennial” · Minnesota Wildflowers
  • Light · “Partial sun (minimum requirement); Full sun (minimum requirement)” · Virginia DCR Piedmont (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs) · Virginia regional planting chart; sunlight is a minimum requirement, moisture is low/moderate/high
  • Soil · “Moderate; High” · Virginia DCR Piedmont (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs) · Virginia regional planting chart; sunlight is a minimum requirement, moisture is low/moderate/high
Also known as

Eastern Marsh Fern

Conservation status

Louisiana rankSNR
Global rankG5
LA statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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Sources