This is a primitive plant that produces spores. Typically grown as a curiosity in a shade garden or as an epiphyte. Sometimes grown as a container plant.

Specimen plant, screen plant, understory tree/shrub.

Shade tree. Screen along wetland edges. Street tree for use in parking lots and median strips. Many acres have been planted to attract bees for honey production.

The entire state excepting the keys falls within the range of this plant which extends from North Carolina to Texas.   Herbarium specimens document occurrence, at least sporatically, throughout the peninsula but not in the Florida keys.  Counties without documented specimens are ones with heavy urbanization, dominance by unsuitable habitats, intensive farming or silviculture, or generally a lack of public access for botanizing. Moist meadows

Called cinnamon fern because of the color of its fertile fronds. In Florida it sends up its fertile fronds in the spring and fall; farther north in its large range, the fertile fronds only emerge in the spring. Useful as a specimen in moist areas and in rain gardens or bioswales. Its urn shape and orange spore producing fertile leaves make this fern attractive as an individual specimen in areas that have adequate moisture. Large size and grace are its principal appeal. Evergreen in south-central FL. Deciduous in north FL.

Difficult to transplant. Clonal. May be used as a hedge and takes to pruning.

FNPS Blog article Specimen plant or background hedge.