Glade Fern Homalosorus pycnocarpos

Glade Fern is an elegant fern with attractive shiny leaves that is often found in rich, mesic deciduous forests, around seeps, along streams and at the base of sloped terrain.  It can be identified by its tall, narrow, bright green fronds.  It typically grows in clusters of 5 to 6 per rhizome.  The cluster of spore producing receptacles on the underside of the frond, called sori, are long, curved and arranged in a herringbone pattern.  A vein on the foliage goes to the edge of the leaf blade.

The arching fronds can grow up 2.5' long and have 20 to 40 pairs of pinnae which alternately arranged.  Sterile fronds appear first in the springtime.  Fertile fronds will appear as the summer comes on and progresses.  

It spreads by creeping rhizomes and prefers continuous moisture in well-drained soils and partial to full shade. The fronds will turn brown in low moisture conditions. Large clumping colonies can form over time.

Ferns do not bloom but reproduce from spores formed on fertile leaves.

Habitat: Very nutrient-rich, loamy or seepy forests, over calcareous sedimentary (such as limestone or dolostone) or mafic metamorphic or igneous rocks (such as greenstone or amphibolite)

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious issues, however, tender fronds can be damaged by slugs and snails.  The foliage can turn brown if the soil is allowed to remain dry for extended periods of time.  

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