FNPS Plant Database

Athyrium filix-femina

southern lady fern

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Nomenclature

Common Name:

southern lady fern

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Athyrium filix-femina

Family:

Dryopteridaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

fern

Size:

2.5-3.5 ft tall by 2-3 ft wide

Life Span:

long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

winter dormant

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Ground cover. This is a clump-forming fern (all fronds arise from a central point) making it a good focal point in a shade garden. Can also be used as a border plant.

Considerations:

Availability:

FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Division (spring is said to be best).

Light:

Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

-|----|--|---|- <-----> -|----|----|----|----|----|-

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Usually moist, occasional inundation

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

acidic to neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

8A

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Mammals
One resource (Misssouri Botantical Garden) indicates that it tolerates rabbits.

Native Habitats:

Moist hammocks, swamps, shady bluffs

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Fronds and rhizomes are said to be poisonous but potentially edible after cooking (please don't eat based on this information!)

General Comments:

Fronds are lacy and delicate in appearance.

Citations:

Huegel, Craig N. 2012. Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants. https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ , accessed 2025. Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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