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Athyrium asplenioides

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Athyrium filix-femina var. asplenioides
Phonetic Spelling
uh-THEE-ree-um as-pleh-nee-OY-deez
Description

Southern lady fern is a 2-3 foot fern with lacy, broad deciduous leaves in the fern (Aspleniaceae) family and is native to central and eastern USA including NC. It is found growing in meadows, open thickets, moist woods, and occasionally in swamps and is often found in the understory of cedars, firs and hemlock woodlands. It spreads by underground rhizomes and will form a dense ground cover over time. The Genus name comes from the Greek athyros meaning "doorless" in reference to the slowly opening hinged spore covers. 

It is easily grown in sandy or clay loams in medium moisture to wet soil in part shade to full shade. It does best in dappled shade conditions. It will tolerate seasonal flooding, the full sun only if the soil is kept constantly moist and drier soils with regular watering. Divide clumps in spring every few years to reposition crowns at the soil level.

Use this plant as a ground cover for partial to shady moist areas in forests, along a stream bank, or at the edge of a woodland pond.

Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems:  No serious problems. Shelter from wind to protect fronds from breaking. Fronds frequently become somewhat tattered in appearance by mid-summer.

VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.

Profile Video:
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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#easy to grow#shade garden#lacy leaves#fern#cover plant#low maintenance#rabbit resistant#stream banks#pond margins#NC native#deer resistant#rock garden#native fern#food source summer#border front#shade border#food source herbage#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FAC#Audubon#heavy shade tolerant#woodland garden#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#easy to grow#shade garden#lacy leaves#fern#cover plant#low maintenance#rabbit resistant#stream banks#pond margins#NC native#deer resistant#rock garden#native fern#food source summer#border front#shade border#food source herbage#Coastal FAC#Piedmont Mountains FAC#Audubon#heavy shade tolerant#woodland garden#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Athyrium
    Species:
    asplenioides
    Family:
    Aspleniaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern U.S.A.
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , LA , MA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
    Wildlife Value:
    Provides cover for wildlife and parts are used in bird nest construction.
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Deer, Heavy Shade
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Fern
    Ground Cover
    Native Plant
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Ascending
    Clumping
    Erect
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Description:
    No fruits. Spores on display from May to September. This plant reproduces via spores.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Fronds
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Pinnatifid
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The 2-3 feet long and 10 inches across light green lacy fronds are pinnate or pinnatifid lanceolate and grow in a circular clump. Each frond has 20-30 non-opposite pinnae that are elliptic with pointed tips. Pinnae are then further divided into lanceolate to oblong pinnules. Fronds are widest below the center. The reproductive structures (sori & indusia) are located on the undersides of the pinnules.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stems are yellow-green to red-brown with chaffy scales that are light to dark brown
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Riparian
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Rain Garden
    Shade Garden
    Water Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Frogs
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Heavy Shade
    Rabbits