The netted chain fern is a deciduous herbaceous perennial in the spleenwort family (Aspleniaceae), native to the eastern United States and Nova Scotia. The species epithet is Latin and means “areolate,” i.e., having “islands” of leaf blade surrounded by veins. This characteristic venation is also the inspiration for the common name. It is easily grown in organically rich, consistently moist to wet, well-drained, acidic soils in part to full shade. It does well in average garden soils and will take a considerable amount of sun as long as soils are kept consistently moist. It grows 1 to 2 feet high and wide, and small animals use it for cover. It spreads by branching and creeping rhizomes and will naturalize over time into large colonies in optimum growing conditions... almost to the point of being weedy. Pinnae of the netted chain fern are mostly alternate or subopposite. Its spores are borne in chain-like rows on a frond with narrow, green pinnae. It has bright green lanceolate, pinnatisect blades with wide wings along the rachis. Its veins join into two or more rows of areoles between the midvein and the margin of the pinna. This fern is similar in appearance to the much more common sensitive fern ( Onoclea sensibilis ), except the latter generally grows taller (to 4 feet), has beaded, nongreen fertile fronds and has lobed (not serrate) leaflets with opposite arrangement on the sterile fronds. The netted chain fern can grow in native, shade, and water gardens. It can grow along shaded streams and in mass plantings or in borders. Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems : Watch for the Florida Fern Caterpillar. 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) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Features pinnatifid, glossy green sterile fronds which emerge pinkish in spring and unroll to 1'-2' long. Sterile fronds typically have 8-10 pairs of lance-shaped pinnae (leaflets) with small marginal teeth. Fertile fronds arise in summer to the same length as the sterile ones but have narrower leaf divisions. The pinnae of both fronds have netted veins and the sori (spores) on the fertile fronds are arranged in chain-like rows parallel to the pinnae midribs, hence the common name.