Bright green, lacy fronds arise gracefully from creeping rhizomes. The newly emerging fronds are beautiful in the spring. Clumps are dense and upright. Vigorous and easy to grow.
Native Plant Database
Header Photo: Mervin Wallace
Lady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina
Plant Type: Ferns
Native Environment:
Season of Interest: Mid (May - June), Late (July - frost)
Main Color: Green
Fall Color:
USDA PLANTS Range Map
At the range map link above, zoom in for county-level data


Sun Exposure
Shade

Soil
Moisture
Moderate, High

Nature Attracting

Wildlife Benefit

Animal
Resistance
Size
Height:
12 to
24
inches
Spread:
24 to
inches
Size
Height: 12 to
24
inches
Spread: 24 to
inches
Size
Height: 12 to
24
inches
Spread: 24 to
inches
Typical Landscape Use
Use in the shade garden or naturalize in a woodland. Can be used as a ground cover.
Establishment and Care Instructions
Grow in partial to full shade in rich, moist soil.
Special Features
Special Usage
Fresh Cut Flower
Basic Description
Where Should I Start?
Check out the Grow Native! Committee’s Top Ten picks of native plants for a particular purpose.
What’s the Next Step?
Picked out your plants? View our Resource Guide of garden centers, seed sources, landscapers, education resources, and more!
Where Can I Find This Plant in Nature?
Learn about the Native Environment(s) inhabited by the plants in this database.