How do you take care of a lady fern?

Light/Watering: All Ferns thrive in light to heavy shade. A few, such as Lady Ferns (Athyrium filix-femina) will grow in full sun in the North, provided the planting site is damp. Water Ferns regularly if rain is not sufficient, and do not let the soil get completely dry.

Do lady ferns come back every year?

No. Deciduous ferns like Lady Fern benefit more from allowing the brown fronds to protect the center of the plant where new fronds will emerge in the spring. Once you see new fronds, you can clear away the old fronds by hand, being careful not to break the new shoots.

Is Lady fern a perennial?

Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Lady Fern is a native perennial upright fern that can reach 2-5 feet in height. This graceful fern is a lovely addition to any moist shade gardens. The lacy light green foliage provides a striking contrast to other wide, dark-leaved shade-tolerant plants.

Is Lady fern an indoor plant?

They do not generally do well with dry, indoor air. To successfully grow a lady fern as an indoor plant, keep it away from drafts and vents, and mist the foliage daily. Though they can get large, lady ferns prefer small pots.

How big does a Southern lady fern get?

Athyrium filix-femina angustum (Northern lady fern) performs best in the upper United States, while Southern lady fern ( Athyrium filix-femina asplenioides) takes the extreme summer heat of the south. Both have upright arching fronds that may reach 24 to 48 inches (61 to 122 cm.).

What kind of fern is a filix femina?

Athyrium filix-femina is now commonly split into three species, typical A. filix-femina, A. angustum (narrow lady fern) and A. asplenioides (southern lady fern). Athyrium filix-femina is cespitose (the fronds arising from a central point as a clump rather than along a rhizome ).

How does a lady fern plant get started?

Ferns may be propagated from spores, called sori and indusia, that grow on the back of the leaves. Starting ferns from spores can be a time consuming process, so start your lady fern plants from division of the rhizomes or by purchasing small plants.

What kind of fern is green with Red Fronds?

The frond stalks are green to purple or red in color. Lady Fern is native to the continental US and Alaska. This graceful fern is a lovely addition to any moist shade gardens.