Carried by 28 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Athyrium filix-femina (Lady Fern or Common Lady-fern) is a large, feathery species of fern native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere, where it is often abundant (one of the more common ferns) in damp, shady woodland environments and is often grown for decoration. The plant is caespitose (the fronds arising from a central point as a clump rather than along a rhizome). The fronds are light yellow-green, 20-90 centimeter long and 5-25 centimeter broad; they are deciduous. Sori appear as dots on the underside of the frond, 1-6 per pinnule. They are covered by a prominently whitish to brown reniform (kidney-shaped) indusium. Fronds are very dissected, being 3-pinnate. The stripe may bear long, pale brown, papery scales at the base.
Plant type
Fern
Size
2 - 5 ft Tall
3 - 7 ft Wide
Form
Upright
Growth rate
Moderate
Dormancy
Winter Deciduous
Special uses
Containers, Deer resistant
Sun
Deep Shade, Partial Shade
Water
High, Moderate
Ease of care
Moderate
Soil drainage
Medium
Soil description
Performs best in moist, rich soil.
Site type
Wet places
Plant communities
Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Subalpine Forest, Yellow Pine Forest, Wetland-Riparian
Common names:
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