Native Plants

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Smith, R.W.

Thelypteris palustris

Thelypteris palustris Schott

Eastern Marsh Fern, Marsh Fern

Thelypteridaceae (Marsh Fern Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: THPA

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N), SPM (N)

From the Image Gallery

13 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb , Fern
Size Notes: Fronds up to about 3-1/2 feet long.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Not Applicable
Bloom Notes: Not a flowering plant. Reproduces by spores.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: NB , NL , NS , PE
Native Habitat: swamps, bogs, wet fields or thickets, fresh tidal and nontidal marshes, wooded streambanks

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Wet
Soil Description: Clay, Loam, Sand

Benefit

Attracts: Birds

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	OBL				FACW	OBL		OBL	FACW	OBL

This information is derived from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2023). 2022 National Wetland Plant List, version 3.6. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. https://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/. Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Thelypteris palustris in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Thelypteris palustris in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Thelypteris palustris

Metadata

Record Modified: 2026-07-06
Research By: TWC Staff

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