Southern lady fern is a deciduous fern in the Spleenwort family (Aspleniaceae). It is native to the central and eastern USA, including North Carolina It is found growing in meadows, open thickets, moist woods, and occasionally in swamps and is often found in the understory of cedar, fir or hemlock woodlands. The genus name comes from the Greek athyros meaning "doorless" in reference to the slowly opening, hinged spore covers. The species epithet means “like Asplenium ,” a related genus of ferns. The Southern Lady fern grows in sandy or clay loams in medium moisture to wet soil in part shade to full shade. It does best in dappled shade conditions. It can take full sun only if the soil is kept constantly moist. It will tolerate seasonal flooding and drier soils with regular watering. Southern Lady fern grows in neutral to acid pH soil. This fern has lacy broad fronds 2 to 3 feet long. It spreads by underground rhizomes and will form a dense ground cover over time. Divide clumps in spring every few years to reposition crowns at the soil level. Use this fern as a ground cover for partial to shady moist areas in forests, along a stream bank, or at the edge of a woodland pond. It also can do well in naturalized, water, shade, and rain gardens. Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Shelter from wind to protect fronds from breaking. Fronds frequently become somewhat tattered in appearance by mid-summer. 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 texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
The 2-3 feet long and 10 inches across light green lacy fronds are pinnate or pinnatifid lanceolate and grow in a circular clump. Each frond has 20-30 non-opposite pinnae that are elliptic with pointed tips. Pinnae are then further divided into lanceolate to oblong pinnules. Fronds are widest below the center. The reproductive structures (sori & indusia) are located on the undersides of the pinnules.
Flower detail
No flowers.
Fruit detail
No fruits. Spores on display from May to September. This plant reproduces via spores.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Stems are yellow-green to red-brown with chaffy scales that are light to dark brown
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern U.S.A.
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , LA , MA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
Wildlife value
Provides cover for wildlife and parts are used in bird nest construction.