Golden Leatherfern
Acrostichum aureum
- Native to:
- Andaman Is., Angola, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Bismarck Archipelago, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caroline Is., Cayman Is., Central American Pacific Is., China, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, French Guiana, Gabon, Galápagos, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Guyana, Hainan, Haiti, Honduras, India, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Leeward Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Malaya, Marianas, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Nicaragua, Nicobar Is., Nigeria, Niue, Palau, Panamá, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Réunion, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Society Is., Solomon Is., South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Tubuai Is., Turks-Caicos Is., United States, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wallis-Futuna Is., Windward Is., Zambia, Zimbabwe
Wibowo Djatmiko ( Wie146 )
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Pteridophyta | - Ferns
- Family:
- Pteridaceae
- Genus:
- Acrostichum
- Species:
- Acrostichum aureum
- USDA Symbol:
- ACAU3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 400 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Stathmopoda elyella
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, waterlogged, saline soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in mangrove swamps
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–45 days
- Notes:
- Fern reproduces via spores rather than seeds. Spores require consistently moist conditions and warm temperatures for successful germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI