Southern Beech Fern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Dryopteris hexagonoptera
- Thelypteris hexagonoptera
- Phonetic Spelling
- fay-GOP-ter-iss heks-uh-gon-OP-ter-uh
- Description
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Broad Beech Fern is a native fern that prefers moist, rich, well-drained, acidic soils in partial to deep shade. However, it can sometimes be found in sunny open areas with dry or semi-moist soil. The deciduous leaves are produced directly from the shallow rhizomes in spring and it can spread rapidly and become weedy. The fronds of this plant are 10-30" long and spread out in rows or loose clusters. Blades are up to 13" long, are approximately the same width, and are most often 2-pinnatifid. The fronds are a dull green color, slightly hairy on the lower surface, broadly triangular and tilt backwards. There are 12 or more almost opposite pairs of pinna that are tapered at both ends, the lowest pair larger, broader and often point downward. All the pinnae are connected along the rachis by a narrow wing of blade tissue. The lowest pair of pinnae are often narrowed at the base. In the fall, the fronds turn pale yellow.
This is a medium-sized attractive plant that can be used in moist woodland and naturalized areas in a shady native garden. Forms colonies.
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:
- Phegopteris
- Species:
- hexagonoptera
- Family:
- Thelypteridaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada and U.S.A.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy shade, Rabbits and deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Native Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 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
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Deltoid
- Ovate
- Pinnatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Dentate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Bright green 1.5 to 2-foot fronds have a similar width, are twice-pinnate, and are broadly triangular. Each frond has 12-20 pairs of leaflets, hairy on the underside, that are joined together at their bases by a winged rachis. Leaflets are pinnatifid with 8-20 pairs of lobes. The 2 lower leaflets point downward. The reddish-brown sori are located on the undersides of the leaflet lobes. The fronds turn a pale yellow in the fall. Strongly triangular leaf blade.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Light green to reddish-green stems are terete and glabrous. May have scales near the base.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heat
- Heavy Shade
- Rabbits
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
