Lygodium palmatum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ly-GO-dee-um pahl-MAY-tum
- Description
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American climbing fern is a climbing, herbaceous perennial fern in the fan-fern family (Lygodiaceae). It is native to the Eastern United States and is considered threatened in many states. Native to North Carolina, where it is considered rare, this species is found primarily in the Appalachian Mountains. The species epithet describes the palmate lobes on the sterile leaflets.
It grows well with constant moisture and acidic soils and is found in thickets, bogs, marshes, and open and closed woods. It grows in partial shade to full sun. Preferred soil type is loam or clay. Its fronds can grow in length 8 feet or more, twining around other vegetation.
It is known as Hartford fern because it was the first plant to be protected by law in the United States, in Hartford, Connecticut, where it was gathered for Christmas decorations.
This fern can grow in boggy areas, near ponds, woodlands and in naturalized areas. It can also be grown in native or winter gardens. Excercise care when using this species in the garden, as it can climb exuberantly over other plants.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or pest issues.
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:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lygodium
- Species:
- palmatum
- Family:
- Lygodiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- AL , CT , DE , FL , GA , ID , KS , KY , MA , MD , MI , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WV
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Creeping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- 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:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Slippery
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3-7 lobed leaflets are palmately divided (appear hand-like). Leaves are 1-2 inches long and 2-4 inches wide and sterile. The fertile leaves are at the top of the plant and the leaflets are much more finely cut and have spores on the back.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Wet Soil
