Marsh Fern Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- the-LIP-ter-is pal-US-triss pew-BES-senz
- Description
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Eastern Marsh Fern is a native fern in the marsh fern family. It is found in low woodland areas along riparian corridors and roadsides. It has a low creeping rhizome from which arises erect to arching fronds. Only Thelypteris palustris available in the trade.
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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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Thelypteris
- Species:
- palustris
- Family:
- Aspleniaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America, China, and Japan
- Wildlife Value:
- Only known host for the Marsh Fern Moth (Fagitana littera). Small mammals browse the foliage.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy shade, 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
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
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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)
- 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 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
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Fronds with an elliptic to lanceloate form, pinnate with lobed pinna the middle pinna are widest. Petioles are green-yellow.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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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
- Heat
- Heavy Shade
- Wet Soil