Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Polypodium filix-femina
- Phonetic Spelling
- a-THEE-ree-um FEE-liks FEM-in-a SUB-spee-shees a-SPLEN-e-oy-dees
- Description
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Lady Fern is a deciduous fern that features lacy-cut, light green fronds that grow in a dense circular shuttlecock-like clump to 2-3' tall. Common Ladyfern 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.
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, around ponds and bogs or woodland areas.
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:
- Container Garden with Epiphytes
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Athyrium
- Species:
- filix-femina
- Family:
- Athyriaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and Central North America
- 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:
- This plant provides ground cover for Woodhouse Toads and anoles and its parts are used in bird nest construction.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy shade; This plant is seldom damaged by deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 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
- Native Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Clumping
- Erect
- 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:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- 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:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruit. 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 Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- There is little difference between sterile and fertile fronds. The fronds feature a feathery lacey texture with pinnate or pinnatifid lanceolate light green fronds. Each frond contains 20-30 elliptic pinna (leaflets) with pointed tips that are not directly opposite to each other. Each pinna is then subdivided into lanceolate to oblong pinnules (subleaflets) where the brown sori (spores) are found on the underside. The fronds are 2-3 feet long and 10 inches across.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- 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:
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Pond
- Riparian
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Frogs
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Rabbits
