Broad beech fern is a native, herbaceous perennial fern in the spleenwort family (Aspleniaceae). Its origin is in eastern North America, including North Carolina. The species epithet, Latin for “six-sided wing,” refers to the unusual connection between opposite pinnae. The blade is connected across the stipe to form a hexagonal “wing.” It prefers moist, rich, well-drained, acidic soils in partial to deep shade. However, it can sometimes be found in sunny open areas with dry or semi-moist soil. The deciduous leaves are produced directly from the shallow rhizomes in spring, and it can spread rapidly and become weedy. The fronds of this plant are 10-30 inches long and spread out in rows or loose clusters. Blades are up to 13 inches long, are approximately the same width, and are most often 2-pinnatifid. The fronds are a dull green color, slightly hairy on the lower surface and broadly triangular. There are 12 or more nearly opposite pairs of pinna that are tapered at both ends; the lowest pair is larger, broader and often pointing downward. All the pinnae are connected along the rachis by a narrow wing of blade tissue. In the fall, the fronds turn pale yellow. This is a medium-sized attractive plant that can be used in moist woodland and naturalized areas in a shady native garden. It rapidly forms colonies as ground cover. It can be used in mass plantings or as a border. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington , Director of JC Raulston Arboretum . More information on Phegopteris .
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) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Bright green 1.5 to 2-foot fronds have a similar width, are twice-pinnate, and are broadly triangular. Each frond has 12-20 pairs of leaflets, hairy on the underside, that are joined together at their bases by a winged rachis. Leaflets are pinnatifid with 8-20 pairs of lobes. The 2 lower leaflets point downward. The reddish-brown sori are located on the undersides of the leaflet lobes. The fronds turn a pale yellow in the fall. Strongly triangular leaf blade.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower detail
No flowers.
Fruit detail
No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Light green to reddish-green stems are terete and glabrous. May have scales near the base.