Growing
- Forest layer: Herbaceous groundcover fern.
- Growth habit & lifespan: Perennial, spreads via underground tubers and rhizomes, forming dense mats.
- Size: 0.3-0.6m.
- Site preference: Shade to part sun, moist soil, very adaptable.
- Water needs / drought tolerance: Moderate to high.
- Fruiting / flowering season: Not applicable, fern — spreads by spores and, more effectively, by tubers.
- Propagation: Tubers are the main vector, and readily spread in dumped garden waste or on machinery and tools.
- Harvesting technique: Not applicable, removal target.
Permaculture Function
- Permaculture functions: Minimal, outcompetes native ferns and groundcovers where it forms dense mats.
- Wildlife value: Low, the dense mat habit reduces overall groundcover diversity.
- Edibility / medicinal use: Not edible.
- Companion notes: Not applicable, removal target.
Safety & Control
- Toxicity: Not toxic.
- Control method: Dig out including the tubers, since fragments left behind regrow readily. Expect repeated follow-up. Never leave tuber-bearing material on damp ground where it can re-root, and avoid moving soil from an infested area without checking for tubers first.