Description

A pretty plant for dry shade! Lady Fern has delicate, lacy-cut, light green fronds that unfurl to make vase shaped clumps with distinctive dark specks on lower stems. More tolerant of drier soils than other ferns. Lady fern fronds emerge later in spring, so this fern is a great companion plant for spring ephemerals like Virginia bluebells that are fading out when the lady starts to make her appearance.

Ferns prefer well-drained soil high in organic matter. Mulch with leaves or aged hardwood bark in the spring and fall.

Fern foliage provides food for many butterflies and moths during their caterpillar stage.

Height: 1-3 ft.
Spread: 1-2.5 ft.
Spreads by: slowly spreading rhizomes
Family: Athyriaceae
Sun: part shade to full shade
Deer and rabbit resistant

photo credit: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz