Silvery Spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Silvery Spleenwort:
Previously known as:
- Athyrium thelypteroides
- Diplazium acrostichoides
- Phonetic Spelling
- de-PAR-ee-uh ah-kro-sti-KOY-deez
- Description
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The silvery glade fern is an herbaceous perennial plant in the spleenwort family (Aspleniaceae). Its origin is eastern Canada and the eastern half of the U.S.A. Its native habitat is within and under the cover of forests. The specific epithet means “like Acrostichum,” which is an unrelated fern genus.
The fern requires constant moisture. It needs good loamy soil that retains moisture but also has good drainage. It is clumping but can spread via short creeping rhizomes. It will tolerate some sun with adequate moisture. The silvery glade fern clump grows 1 to 3 feet high and 1.5 feet to 3.5 feet wide. It grows in dappled to deep shade.
The fronds can reach over 3 feet at maturity. Fronds turn straw-colored in fall. The oblong sori form along the veins on the undersides of the pinnae and mature in late summer. The sori form a herringbone pattern.
This fern can be grown in naturalized areas, woodlands and in shade gardens.
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:
- Deparia
- Species:
- acrostichoides
- Family:
- Aspleniaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- E. Canada to N. Central & E. U.S.A.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy shade, Deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 4 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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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
- White
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Pinnatifid
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Elliptic-lanceolate fronds, pinnate-pinnatifid. Fronds taper at base. Segments are squarish or rounded. Lower surface of blade becomes silvery from whitish sori arranged in herringbone pattern. Fronds turn straw colored in fall.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in more than 2 scales
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stipe and rachis remain green with abundant, narrow scales and some fine hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Shade Garden
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
