Rattlesnake Fern Botrychium virginianum

Rattlesnake Fern is a deciduous herbaceous perennial in the Adder’s-Tongue fern family (Ophioglossaceae) found in most of North America, Central America, portions of South America, Eurasia, China, Korea, and Japan. It is the most widespread of the ferns in this genus in North America. It is common and widespread in North Carolina. The genus name, Botrychium, is Greek in origin for botrys, which means a "bunch of grapes." This references the clusters of spherical sporangia, which resemble grapes. The common name, Rattlesnake Fern, refers to the sporangia that resembles a snake’s rattle.

Rattlesnake Ferns prefer partial to deep shade and moist fertile soils. It thrives in an abundance of decaying organic matter and is best suited for acidic soils.  It is dependent on mycorrhizal fungi in the soil to survive. This plant is difficult to cultivate. Dividing or transplanting is usually unsuccessful. They are propagated by the germination of their spores.

The Rattlesnake fern grows from rhizomes. The leaves are light green, and the stalks are light green to red. The plant consists of just two leaves: a sterile leaf and a fertile leaf. The fertile leaf develops before the sterile leaf. The sterile leaf is positioned horizontally. Rattlesnake Fern and the Cutleaf Grape Fern (Botrychium dissectum) are very similar in appearance and habitat. The fronds of the Cutleaf Grape Fern are leathery; whereas, the Rattlesnake Fern fronds are thin, non-leathery, and delicate. The Cutleaf Grape Fern is evergreen, and the Rattlesnake Fern is deciduous.

The rattlesnake fern would do well in woodlands, and native and shade gardens.

Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems

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