Climbing Fern Lygodium palmatum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ly-GO-dee-um pahl-MAY-tum
- Description
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American Climbing Fern is native to the Eastern United States but is considered threatened in many states. It requires high light levels, constant moisture and acidic soils as is found in thickets, bogs, marshes, and open and closed woods. This plant is found primarily in the Appalachian Mountains area.
It is known as Hartford Fern because it was the first plant to be protected by law in the United States in Connecticut due to it being gathered for Christmas decorations.
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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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. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- 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
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Wet Soil
