Sensitive fern is a large, deciduous, herbaceous perennial fern in the spleenwort family (Aspleniaceae) that thrives in moist woodland soils. It is native to both eastern North America (including North Carolina) and eastern Asia. The species epithet is Latin for “sensitive,” which along with the common name, sensitive fern, refers to the inability of this fern to tolerate mild frost or drought. Sensitive ferns prefer soils high in organic matter, clay or loamy soils that are consistently moist. These ferns thrive in shaded environments, protected from cold or drying winds. Propagation occurs both via creeping rhizomes and spores. These ferns exhibit long pinnatifid, sterile fronds, which have characteristic netted veins. The fertile fronds are less than half of the length of the sterile fronds and they turn brown as the summer progresses. This fern’s leaf color in the fall is gold/yellow and the leaves can be dried for indoor arrangements. Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: The foliage may deteriorate as summer progresses in hot climates, particularly if soils are not kept moist. 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.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
The sensitive fern has broad, almost triangular fronds. The sterile fronds are deeply pinnatified to bipinnatified, and thin texture. The fronds of most pinnae are nearly opposite, the rachis is smooth, pale tan or yellow. The fronds turn yellow or russet in the fall. Fertile fronds emerge in late summer, are woody with beadlike segments, brown and persist into winter. Stipes are long (one half to two-thirds of frond), network veined. It is dimorphic (occurring in or representing two distinct forms).
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower detail
No flowers.
Fruit detail
No fruits or seeds. This plants reproduces via spores.
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Wildlife value
It provides excellent ground cover for animals.
Attracts
Songbirds
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Garden for the Blind; Native Garden; Rain Garden; Shade Garden