Deer fern

Sun

Partial to full shade; protect from strong afternoon sun and drying winds.

Water

Keep consistently moist, especially during establishment and dry weather, without leaving the roots waterlogged.

Soil

Humus-rich, acidic to neutral soil that holds moisture but drains freely; avoid chalky or strongly alkaline soil.

Height

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Foliage

Evergreen. Glossy, dark green, leathery sterile fronds form low, spreading rosettes. Narrower fertile fronds stand upright in the centre and usually die back over winter.

Growth

Slow to moderate

Care needed

Low

• Deer resistant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.1 ft (0.34 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.2 ft (0.38 m)

4. After 3 years

   1.4 ft (0.42 m)

5. After 5 years

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

   full size

About 4 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US, Canada and the UK

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant with the crown at soil level in a sheltered, shaded position.
• Water deeply during dry spells; do not let newly planted roots dry out.
• Apply leaf mould or composted bark each spring, keeping it clear of the crown.
• Avoid heavy feeding; an annual layer of leaf mould is usually sufficient.
• Leave established clumps undisturbed unless division is needed.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, cut dead or badly damaged fronds at their bases before new growth expands. Keep healthy evergreen fronds and take care not to damage the tightly curled new fronds.

Early spring

Remove dead and winter-damaged fronds before the new fronds unfurl.

Spring

Plant new ferns and apply a thin mulch of leaf mould, leaving the crown exposed.

Late spring

Check new growth for slug and snail damage, particularly on recently planted ferns.

Summer

Water during dry spells and check that nearby tree roots are not leaving the soil dry.

Autumn

Plant in mild regions while the soil is moist; remove heavy piles of leaves that bury the crown.

Winter

Leave healthy evergreen fronds in place and check that water drains away from the crown.

• Plant in small groups beneath deciduous trees where the soil stays moist, creating a low evergreen woodland layer.
• Edge shaded paths with its tidy rosettes, allowing room for the arching fronds.
• Combine with hostas and woodland flowers for contrasts in leaf shape and seasonal growth.
• Use beside shaded rocks or a pond margin above the waterline, where drainage remains good.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Pacific Northwest woodland, Moss and fern garden, Japanese, Green on green and Winter interest.

Plant it with: Hosta, Barrenwort, Foamflower, Japanese painted fern, Rhododendron and Wood sorrel.

Wildlife: Dense fronds and accumulated leaf litter provide shelter for small invertebrates. As a fern, it has no flowers, nectar or pollen for pollinators.

• Brown, crisp frond edges usually indicate dry soil, hot sun or drying wind; water thoroughly, mulch and provide deeper shade.
• Yellowing and weak growth on alkaline soil may indicate unsuitable soil chemistry; move to an acidic, humus-rich bed rather than repeatedly feeding.
• Crown or root rot can develop in stagnant, waterlogged soil; improve drainage and keep mulch away from the crown.
• Slugs and snails may damage emerging fronds; inspect in damp weather, remove pests by hand and use wildlife-conscious controls if needed.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, but species-specific safety information is limited. Do not treat the fronds, fiddleheads or rhizomes as edible, and discourage pets or children from chewing them.

• Western sword fern (Polystichum munitum)

  Usually much larger, with toothed leaflets that have a small thumb-like lobe at the base. It does not produce deer fern's sharply contrasting narrow, upright fertile fronds.

• Alpine water fern (Austroblechnum penna-marina)

  Also has separate fertile and sterile fronds, but is generally smaller and spreads by creeping rhizomes to make a carpet rather than a distinct upright clump.

• Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina)

  Has soft, finely divided, lacy fronds and loses its foliage in winter; deer fern has leathery fronds with simple, narrow segments.

The species name spicant means spike-bearing, referring to the narrow, upright fertile fronds.

Propagation. Raise from spores on a moist, clean propagation medium under humid, shaded conditions; growth is slow. Large clumps with several crowns can sometimes be divided in early spring, keeping roots attached to each division.

Accepted botanical name

Blechnum spicant

In the US and Canada

Native in Alaska, Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Alaska, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baltic States, Belgium, British Columbia, Bulgaria, California, Canary Is. and Corse.

Measured

Average height 71 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.