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Athyrium filix-femina
Lady Fern
Handsome crowns of feathery fronds are typical of Lady Ferns. Delicate and lacy with arching fronds and feathery texture, Athyrium filix-femina is a strong-growing and dependable garden plant. Tough and easy to grow, this beauty is the right choice for perennial borders and woodlands alike. A breathtaking flush of new fronds appears in the spring, with new leaves appearing throughout the season for a continuously fresh look. Lady fern is tolerant of drought, but survives by allowing foliage to die back until the next season.
Benefits
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Easy to grow |
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Spreads in moist soils |
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Green all summer |
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Soft texture |
Homeowner Growing and Maintenance Tips
Easy to grow in part to full shade. Tolerates sun if the soil stays moist.
Prefers well-drained soil with average moisture, but this fern tolerates drier soil than other ferns.
Shelter from wind to protect fronds from breaking.
If fronds become tattered, cut them to the ground and new fronds will emerge.
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Height |
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Spread |
USDA Hardiness Zone 2-8
Native Range
Lady fern is found in swamps, thickets and damp woods; Newfoundland and Quebec to the Dakotas, south to Texas and Florida.
Native Trivia
The lady fern was one of the most popular indoor plants in the Victorian Era. Almost every house had at least one, if not more, containers housing lady ferns at that time.
Grizzly bears and elk use lady fern as a food source in the wild.
"Lady Fern provides cover and nesting material for birds and small mammals."
Characteristics & Attributes
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Plan Sub Group
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Exposure
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Soil
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Soil Moisture Preference
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Attracts Wildlife
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Habitat Collection
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Native Habitat
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Foliage Color
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Uses
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Native to
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