Hard-Fern
(Struthiopteris spicant)
Hard-Fern (Struthiopteris spicant)
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Susan Marley
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Susan Marley
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Susan Marley | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Susan Marley | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2021-02-13T12:23:34-08:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Struthiopteris spicant, commonly known as hard-fern or deer fern, is an evergreen fern native to temperate coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests, as well as moist, shaded areas in Europe, Western Asia, and North America. It typically grows to 0.5 meters (1 foot 8 inches) tall, featuring a rosette of arching, glossy, dark green fronds that are divided into narrow, pointed leaflets. The fertile fronds are taller and more erect than the sterile ones, with spore-bearing structures on the underside. Deer fern is notable for its resilience to cold temperatures, hardy down to −20 °C (−4 °F), and its year-round foliage provides visual interest in the garden.
Hard-fern is valued for its lush, evergreen foliage and is awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, indicating its excellence for garden use. It is ideal for woodland gardens, shaded borders, and as ground cover under larger plants. It requires consistently moist soil with medium drainage and thrives in part shade to full shade conditions. While it is low-maintenance, it can be sensitive to drought and excessive sunlight. Deer fern is not known for significant pest or disease issues, but it can suffer from root rot if the soil is too wet. It is not typically invasive but should be monitored to ensure it does not spread beyond its desired area.CC BY-SA 4.0
Hard-fern is valued for its lush, evergreen foliage and is awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, indicating its excellence for garden use. It is ideal for woodland gardens, shaded borders, and as ground cover under larger plants. It requires consistently moist soil with medium drainage and thrives in part shade to full shade conditions. While it is low-maintenance, it can be sensitive to drought and excessive sunlight. Deer fern is not known for significant pest or disease issues, but it can suffer from root rot if the soil is too wet. It is not typically invasive but should be monitored to ensure it does not spread beyond its desired area.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Fern
- Height: 3-2 feet
- Width: 1-2 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Non-Flowering
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Part Shade, Full Shade
- Water: High
- Drainage: Medium
Common Uses
Border Plant, Deer Resistant, Erosion Control, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden, Water Garden
Natural Habitat
Temperate coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests, as well as moist, shaded areas
Other Names
Common Names: Hard Fern, Blechne En Épi, Blechnum Commun, Blechnum En Épi, Fougère De Chevreuil, Doradilla De Bosque, Rippenfarn
Scientific Names: , Blechnum spicant, Struthiopteris spicant, Blechnum spicant subsp. spicant, Blechnum boreale, Osmunda spicant, Lomaria spicant, Lomaria crenata, Spicanta borealis, Blechnum doodioides
GBIF Accepted Name: Struthiopteris spicant (L.) Weiss