Lady Fern is a native perennial upright fern that can reach 2-4 feet in height. The leaves are a bright green, with a fine-textured lacy appearance, and single fronds can measure up to 1’ wide and 3’ in length. The frond stalks are green to purple or red in color. Lady Fern is native to the continental US and Alaska.
This graceful fern is a lovely addition to any moist shade gardens. The lacy light green foliage provides a striking contrast to other wide, dark-leaved shade-tolerant plants. The Lady Fern is easy to grow and maintain as it colonizes through rhizomes but growth is slow. It often forms clumps or groups of upright fern leaves, maintaining a compact appearance, over a 10 year span it will spread from 3-7 feet in diameter. This is a deciduous fern. It will drop its leaves with the first frost. Lady Fern is relatively tolerant of sun and dry soil, compared to other ferns. The best growth will occur in full to partial shade and a rich, moist soil. This hardy fern also makes a nice ground cover plant on the north or east side of buildings.