Deer Fern is an evergreen herbaceous perennial in the Spleenwort family (Aspleniaceae). Deer Fern is native to Europe, spreading east as far as Japan, and Northwestern North America from Alaska, British Columbia, and south to Idaho, Oregon, and northern California. It is typically found growing along the coast in woods, heaths, moors, mountain grassland and on rocks. The genus name, Blechnum , comes from the classical Greek name for a fern. Deer Fern prefers acidic, humus-rich moist soil with good drainage and is partial to full shade. It will tolerate poor soil and heavy clay as well as shady sites with adequate moisture. It has ascending rhizomes that spread slowly, although it can also be propagated by division in the spring. It is winter hardy and resistant to damage from deer and rabbits. This fern is unusual in that it produces two types of fronds; sterile evergreen fronds that are replaced late in the season by taller fertile fronds growing out of the center of the sterile fronds. This fern would be useful as a ground cover in a shady site. It can also be used in woodlands, and in rock and shade gardens. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests. However, leaf spot and rust can sometimes occur. 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.
Fills a similar nicheArachniodes simplicior 'Variegata'Helleborus x hybridusPhegopteris hexagonoptera
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Fern
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | 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; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
This plant has a green, lance-shaped rosette that is pinnatifid, feels stiff and leathery, and arises in a vase-shaped clump. These fronds can be as long as 24 inches or as short as 8 inches. The fronds initially form a loose, flat rosette that is sterile. Later, fertile fronds 16 to 24 inches high emerge vertically from the rosette. They are similar to the sterile ones but taller, with much thinner and widely separated leaflets. Fertile fronds turn brown and wither by the end of the summer, leaving the evergreen sterile rosette.
Flower detail
No flowers; fertilized through spores.
Fruit detail
No fruits. This plant reproduces by means of spores.
Stem detail
Stems slender, short-creeping or ascending, not climbing.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Northwest Africa, Europe to Iran, Japan.
Distribution
Southern Alaska through Canada and western United States.