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Rattlesnake Fern Botrychium virginianum

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Botrychium virginianum var. europaeum
  • Botrypus virginianus
  • Osmunda virginiana
Phonetic Spelling
bo-TRIH-chee-um ver-jin-ee-AH-num
Description

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.

Profile Video:
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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#shade garden#fronds#fern#NC native#deer resistant#spring interest#native fern#bird friendly#Piedmont Mountains FACU#Coastal FACU#Audubon#heavy shade tolerant#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#shade garden#fronds#fern#NC native#deer resistant#spring interest#native fern#bird friendly#Piedmont Mountains FACU#Coastal FACU#Audubon#heavy shade tolerant#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Botrychium
    Species:
    virginianum
    Family:
    Ophioglossaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    New World and Temp. Eurasia
    Distribution:
    USA: AK, AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MA, MI, MN MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY; Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territory, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and Yukon; Central and South America: Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, and Venezuela; Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamacia; Asia: China, Korea, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet. West Himalaya, West Siberia; Europe: Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Yugoslavia
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Heavy shade, Deer
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Fern
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    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
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    No fruits. This plant reproduces via spores. The spores are present from September to November.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Soft
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Fronds
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    This plant has long, erect, bright green, arching, 10-in. fronds that are broadly triangular and bipinnate to tripinnate. This plant has 2 large, opposite, basal pinnae and 4-5 pairs of opposite or subopposite smaller pinnae. The segments are pointed, toothed and thin-textured. Fertile fronds arise from the base of the blade.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    The basal stalk that supports the sterile leaf is light green to dark red, smooth, and stout. The cross-section is rounded in shape. The basal stalk measure 2 to 6 inches in height. The stalk of the fertile is light green, leaf measures 3 to 6 inches, and smooth. The cross-section is round in shape.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Shade Garden
    Attracts:
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Heavy Shade