Athyrium asplenioides
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Athyrium filix-femina
- Athyrium filix-femina var. asplenioides
- Phonetic Spelling
- uh-THEE-ree-um as-pleh-nee-OY-deez
- Description
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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:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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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.
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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
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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
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. Spores on display from May to September. This plant reproduces via spores.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
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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.
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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
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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