Lady Fern (Athyrium Filix-Femina)

Lady Fern

Features and Characteristics

Athyrium filix-femina, commonly called lady fern, is a deciduous fern that features lacy-cut, erect or ascending, 2 to 3-pinnate or pinnatifid, finely-divided, lanceolate, light green fronds which grow in a dense circular shuttlecock-like clump to 2-3′ tall. Each frond (leaf) has twenty to thirty pairs of elliptic non-opposite pinna (leaflets) with narrow pointed tips. Each pinna is divided into deeply-cut lanceolate to oblong pinnules (subleaflets). Sori and indusia are found on the undersides of the pinnules. This is a circumglobal species which is found in rich moist woods, thickets, fields, meadows and ravines throughout northern North America, Europe and Asia.

Genus name comes from Greek athyros meaning “doorless” in reference to the slowly opening hinged indusia (spore covers).

Specific epithet comes from Latin filix meaning fern and femina meaning woman as confirmed by the common name of lady fern.

Care and Maintenance

Easily grown in rich, medium moisture, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. Tolerates drier soils than many other ferns. Will tolerate full sun, however, only if soil is kept constantly moist. Shelter from wind to protect fronds from breaking. Divide clumps in spring every few years to reposition crowns at the soil level.

Lady Fern (Athyrium Filix-Femina) Requirements

Hardiness zone	4 - 8
Sun light	Part Shade To Full Shade
Water	Medium
Maintenance	Low

Common Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Fronds frequently become somewhat tattered in appearance by mid summer.

Uses

Great selection for a shady area of the landscape in need of a small but easy-to-grow fern. Rock gardens, woodland gardens, shaded border fronts or shade gardens. Also effective in shaded areas along streams or ponds.

Lady Fern (Athyrium Filix-Femina) Details

Common name	Lady Fern
Botanical name	Athyrium Filix-Femina
Plant type	Fern
Family	Athyriaceae
Hardiness zone	4 - 8
Water	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Flower color	Non-Flowering
Flowering period	Non-Flowering
Height	1 - 3 Ft.
Width	1 - 2.50 Feet