A LITTLE MORE LIFE
Deer fern
Blechnum spicant
Evergreen fronds bring a layer of native woodland cover to cool, shaded northwestern gardens.
MAKE IT FEEL AT HOME
A spot to thrive.
Also known as Struthiopteris spicant; needs moist, acidic soil and protection from hot, dry conditions.
- Sunlight
- Shade
- Soil moisture
- Average moisture
- Mature size
- 9–18 in tall · 1–2 ft wide
- Season of interest
- Evergreen foliage
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 4–8
- Garden role
- A low woodland fern
ONE GOOD SWAP
Instead of japanese holly fern.
Cyrtomium falcatum
Try deer fern for a low woodland fern.
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Photo credits & licenses
Deer fern: Sdjurovic · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japanese holly fern: Stan Sheb · CC BY-SA 3.0
Resized, converted to WebP, and cropped in the layout. Each photo retains its listed license. All photo credits