Black-Eyed Susan Vine vs Boston Fern

Side-by-side plant comparison — which is right for your garden?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

Thunbergia alata

Acanthaceae · vines

Deer ResistantLow Maintenance

Boston Fern

Nephrolepis exaltata

Nephrolepidaceae · ferns

Deer ResistantMedium Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Zones 10-11)

Boston Fern (Zones 9-11)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 10–11

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Black-Eyed Susan Vine	Boston Fern
Scientific Name	Thunbergia alata	Nephrolepis exaltata
Family	Acanthaceae	Nephrolepidaceae
Category	vines	ferns
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	⛅ Part Shade to Full Shade
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧💧 High
Soil	Well-drained	Rich, Moist
Height	8'	3'
Spread	2'	4'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Non-flowering
Bloom Color	Orange, Yellow, White	None
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	East Africa	Tropical Americas
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Special Traits

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Boston Fern

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

✓Treat as annual in most zones.
✓Provide trellis or let trail from basket.
✓Deadhead for continuous bloom.
✓Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost.

Boston Fern

✓Mist frequently or use humidity tray.
✓Water when top inch of soil is dry.
✓Keep away from heating vents.
✓Trim brown fronds at base.
✓Divide when crowded.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Black-Eyed Susan Vine if you want a low-maintenance plant, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 10–11.

Choose Boston Fern if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in part shade to full shade with high water in zones 9–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 10–11. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

View Black-Eyed Susan VineProfile →View Boston FernProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Boston Fern grow in the same hardiness zone?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine grows in USDA zones 10-11, while Boston Fern grows in zones 9-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 10 through 11.

Do Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Boston Fern have the same sun and water needs?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine needs full sun and medium water, while Boston Fern needs part shade to full shade and high water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Black-Eyed Susan Vine or Boston Fern?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine grows taller at 8' compared to Boston Fern at 3'. Black-Eyed Susan Vine spreads 2' while Boston Fern spreads 4'.

Are Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Boston Fern deer resistant?

Yes, both Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Boston Fern are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Black-Eyed Susan Vine or Boston Fern?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine has low maintenance while Boston Fern has medium maintenance. Black-Eyed Susan Vine may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.

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Detailed Comparison

Feature	Black-Eyed Susan Vine	Boston Fern
Scientific Name	Thunbergia alata	Nephrolepis exaltata
Family	Acanthaceae	Nephrolepidaceae
Category	vines	ferns
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	⛅ Part Shade to Full Shade
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧💧 High
Soil	Well-drained	Rich, Moist
Height	8'	3'
Spread	2'	4'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Non-flowering
Bloom Color	Orange, Yellow, White	None
Growth Rate	Fast	Fast
Native Region	East Africa	Tropical Americas
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Care Tips

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

✓Treat as annual in most zones.
✓Provide trellis or let trail from basket.
✓Deadhead for continuous bloom.
✓Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost.

Boston Fern

✓Mist frequently or use humidity tray.
✓Water when top inch of soil is dry.
✓Keep away from heating vents.
✓Trim brown fronds at base.
✓Divide when crowded.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Black-Eyed Susan Vine if you want a low-maintenance plant, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 10–11.

Choose Boston Fern if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in part shade to full shade with high water in zones 9–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 10–11. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Boston Fern grow in the same hardiness zone?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine grows in USDA zones 10-11, while Boston Fern grows in zones 9-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 10 through 11.

Do Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Boston Fern have the same sun and water needs?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine needs full sun and medium water, while Boston Fern needs part shade to full shade and high water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Black-Eyed Susan Vine or Boston Fern?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine grows taller at 8' compared to Boston Fern at 3'. Black-Eyed Susan Vine spreads 2' while Boston Fern spreads 4'.

Are Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Boston Fern deer resistant?

Yes, both Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Boston Fern are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Black-Eyed Susan Vine or Boston Fern?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine has low maintenance while Boston Fern has medium maintenance. Black-Eyed Susan Vine may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.