Boulder Fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Nephrodium punctlobulum
- Sitobolium punctilobulum
- Phonetic Spelling
- den-STEH-tee-ah punk-tih-LOH-bew-lah
- Description
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The hay-scented fern is a deciduous fern (Dennstaedtiaceae family). It is native to eastern Canada through the eastern half of the United States. The genus name honors a German botanist, August Wilhelm Dennstedt (1776–1826). The species epithet is a Latin compound meaning “spotted lobes,” the meaning of which is obscure.
Hay-scented fern is easy to cultivate. It spreads rapidly in light shade to sun and is fairly drought-tolerant. It grows in clay, loamy or sandy soil that is neutral or acidic. It also tolerates salt spray. It likes moisture but can tolerate dry soil after maturity.
This fern has long, erect to arching, lance-shaped fronds usually widest at the base and are hairy. Yellow-green fronds are thin-textured and bipinnate to pinnate-pinnatisect. Pinnae are subopposite. Stipe is one-fourth to one-third the frond length and brown to shiny red in color. Fronds turn soft yellow in the fall. This fern can prevent woodland tree seedlings from growing due to its dense coverage. Crushed fronds emit the fragrance of freshly mowed hay. Fronds tend to become ragged in late summer.
The hay-scented fern can grow in cottage, native or rock gardens or rocky slopes. It can grow in woodland edges or in naturalized areas.
Pests, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: None.
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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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dennstaedtia
- Species:
- punctilobula
- Family:
- Dennstaedtiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada to U.S.A
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer, drought tolerant, salt spray tolerant, rabbits
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. This plants 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:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Pinnatifid
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Long, erect to arching, lance-shaped fronds usually widest at base. Also hairy. Yellow-green fronds are thin textured, bipinnate to binnate-pinnatifid with an oval-oblong shape. Pinna are closely spaced but not exactly opposite. Has an acute tip. Pinnule are opposite. Fronds turn soft yellow in fall. Crushed fronds emit a fragrance of fresh mowed hay. Tends to become ragged in late summer.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Polished
- Stem Description:
- One-fourth to one-third the frond length and brown to shinny red in color.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Rabbits
- Salt
