Wart Fern (Microsorum scolopendria), also sold as Monarch Fern or Musk Fern and known in Hawaii as lauaʻe, is the tough, glossy groundcover fern for the shady parts of a South Florida yard. It creeps along on thick, scaly rhizomes and fills in under palms and trees where grass gives up, with leathery green fronds that take heat, humidity, salt air and a dry spell without complaint. Easy, steady, and a lot more forgiving than the delicate ferns it resembles.
Why Florida Customers Choose Us
Wart Fern Breakdown
Appearance:
Glossy, leathery green fronds 1–3 feet long on dark stems.
Young fronds are simple straps; as the plant matures they become deeply lobed, like a hand with long fingers. The round spore clusters sit in small pits on the underside and show as raised bumps on the top of the frond — the "warts" behind the name. Dried fronds carry a sweet vanilla-like scent, which is why Hawaiians use them in lei.
Growth Rate:
Moderate to fast once settled.
The rhizomes spread steadily and keep sending up new fronds, so a planting knits together within a season or two.
Size:
1–2 feet tall, spreading as wide as you let it.
Available in 3-gallon (8–12 inches tall).
Sunlight Requirements:
Part shade to full shade.
Takes morning or filtered sun; all-day sun bleaches the fronds unless it stays well watered.
Water Needs:
Medium.
Water regularly while it establishes, then rain usually carries it; it tolerates a dry spell better than most ferns. Good drainage matters more than extra water.
Soil Preferences:
Not fussy — sand, loam or rocky soil as long as it drains.
It will happily climb over rocks, walls and the base of a tree, and grows well in a layer of mulch or leaf litter.
Maintenance:
Low.
Trim away scruffy fronds in spring, and feed lightly with a balanced fertilizer if you want faster fill. It spreads by rhizome, so give it a bed edge or border to fill and it stays tidy.
Landscape Use:
Shade groundcover under palms and oaks, filler on the north side of the house, slopes and rock gardens, around tree trunks and along shaded walkways.
Also at home in containers and hanging baskets.
Climate Tolerance:
USDA zones 9b–11.
Handles salt air and coastal yards, and comes back from the rhizome after a light frost.
Need a bigger, bolder fern for the same shade? The Macho Fern makes a 3–4 foot clump. Wart Fern is the low spreader that covers ground between them.
Florida Delivery Available
We have in-stock Wart Fern ready to ship throughout Florida. Multiple sizes available with professional installation options. Order online or text/call 561-898-2028 for expert advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Plant & Care for Wart Fern in Florida
Choose Sun + Spacing
Most Florida plants prefer full to partial sun. Check mature width and space accordingly so plants don’t crowd as they fill in.
Dig Wide, Not Deep
Dig a hole 2–3x wider than the container and slightly shallow. This encourages roots to spread outward into native soil.
Plant at Proper Height
Remove from the pot, loosen circling roots, and plant with the root ball level to slightly above grade.
Water to Establish
Water deeply right after planting. For the first 10–14 days, consistent moisture is critical—don’t let the root ball dry out.
Mulch + Light Maintenance
Apply 2–3 inches of mulch (keep off the stem). Once settled, light trimming encourages fuller growth.
Professional Installation Available: Not comfortable planting yourself? We offer expert installation services throughout Florida. Our team has 15+ years of experience ensuring your plants thrive. Call 561-898-2028 to add installation to your order.
What Florida Customers Say
My experiences with Dinos have been wonderful. The communication about my orders & delivery was spot on, the deliveries guys quick, efficient and friendly - they even cleaned up fallen leaves from the driveway. But its the product that shined the most. Healthy, lush, vibrant. The same size posts as local nurseries - but the plants themselves were larger, fuller and more robust than anywhere we shopped. I cant say enough great things about their operations, their services and their products.
Dino's Palms did an amazing job with delivering and installation of my new calusia. Their plants are very affordable and I highly recommend them.
Installed 11 4.5ft clusia plants in my front lawn, quality work finished in great time, thank you!
