Marsh Fern Thelypteris palustris subsp. pubescens
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens
- Phonetic Spelling
- the-LIP-ter-is pal-US-triss pew-BES-senz
- Description
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The eastern marsh fern is a native herbaceous perennial in the spleenwort family (Aspleniaceae). It has a broad distribution across eastern Canada and the USA, as well as Bermuda, Cuba, and parts of Mexico. The species epithet is Latin for “of marshes,” and the subspecies epithet is Latin for “hairy.”
The plant prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, sandy soils. It will readily adapt to other soil types but cannot tolerate standing water.
This fern has light green, attractive fronds. The ferns can be thinned when they grow too close together. It has a low creeping rhizome from which arise erect to arching fronds. It is a host for the larvae of the marsh fern moth (Fagitana littera).
The eastern marsh fern can be grown in woodland gardens, alongside ponds, streams or water gardens, and in naturalized, rain or shade gardens. It looks great in mass plantings
Pests, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: None.
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:
- Thelypteris
- Species:
- palustris
- Family:
- Aspleniaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America, China, and Japan
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Only known host for the Marsh Fern Moth (Fagitana littera). Small mammals browse the foliage.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- 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)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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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:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Fronds are erect to ascending with an elliptic to lanceolate form. Pinnate with lobed pinna the middle pinna are widest. The frond is 1-2.5 ft long and 4-7 inches across and has 10-40 pairs of leaflets. Sori 9spore bearing structure) are present on the undersides of the smaller fertile leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stem is tan to purplish and hairless. The central stalk of the frond and the lateral stalks of the leaflets are finely pubescent on their lower sides.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
- Heat
