Hairy lipfern is an herbaceous perennial fern in the ribbon-fern family (Pteridaceae). It is native to the Central and Southeastern U.S.A., including the North Carolina Piedmont and mountains. The species epithet is Latin for “woolly” and refers to the soft hairs that clothe the fronds. Unlike most woodland ferns, hairy lipfern does well in full sun but may need additional water. It likes good drainage and acidic soil and accepts a variety of soil textures including clay, loamy, organic and rocky. Hairy lipfern is a small fern at about 1 foot high and 1.5 feet wide. The foliage of dark green fronds is very attractive but tend to dry up and curl in dry conditions. However, it will spring back to life when moisture is added. The plant will spread slowly by rhizomes in hospitable environments, and it can easily be propagated by division of the rootball. Use this plant in a rock garden, in containers, or in crevices or borders. It can be used in native gardens and in woodland areas. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or pest issues. VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington , Director of JC Raulston Arboretum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.