| 1–5 | — | $18.00 ea |
|---|---|---|
| 6-11 | 10% off | $16.20 ea |
| 12-23 | 20% off | $14.40 ea |
| 24+ | 25% off | $13.50 ea |
31 in stock
Athyrium filix-femina
Choose Lady Fern if you want a native fern to soften a shaded bed without needing swampy soil; the tradeoff is it dies back in winter and will not give you evergreen structure.
| Category | Grade | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape Impact | B+ | Lady Fern gives shaded beds a soft, layered look, but it is more texture than focal point. |
| Growth Rate | A- | It fills in at a good pace when the soil stays reasonably even. |
| Maintenance | A- | Cut back old fronds after they collapse and keep new plantings watered while they settle in. |
| Deer Resistance | A- | Deer rarely browse ferns, making this one of the more dependable choices where deer pressure is heavy. |
| Small Space Fit | B+ | It works well in smaller shade beds, though it looks best grouped rather than used as a single plant. |
| Screening Value | D | This is a ground-layer plant, not a screen or privacy plant. |
At PGNE, we'd typically recommend Lady Fern in groups, not as a single accent, where the goal is a natural woodland floor rather than a showy centerpiece. Its tolerance for both damp and average soil makes it one of the easier ferns to place in a buffer planting, where moisture changes as you move up the bank.
| Botanical Name | Athyrium filix-femina |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Lady Fern |
| Mature Height | 2.5-3 ft |
| Mature Width | 2-3 ft |
| Hardiness Zones | 3a-9a |
| Spacing | 1.5-2 ft |
| Sun | Part Shade to Shade |
| Moisture | Average to moist |
| Growth Habit | Clumping, arching, vase-shaped |
| Evergreen | No |
| Native | Yes (species native to New England/eastern US) |
| Best Used For | Riparian buffer plantings • Rain gardens • Native woodland shade • Moisture-variable shaded beds |
| Wetland Indicator Status | FAC (Facultative) — occurs in both wetlands and uplands about equally, which is why it handles the wet-to-dry gradient of a buffer planting. Source: USDA/USACE National Wetland Plant List, Northcentral & Northeast region. |
No, it is generally a clumping fern, not a runner like some groundcover ferns.
Yes. Its FAC rating on the USDA/USACE National Wetland Plant List means it is equally at home in wetland and upland conditions, so it can be run across the whole width of a buffer rather than just one zone.
No, expect it to die back and return with fresh growth in spring.
Yes, as long as the soil does not stay dry for long stretches.
Pro Growers of New England, Inc
SKU:PGNE-43007
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Very dedicated and professional. We are happy with the way they planted 14 trees for us. 11 green giants, 2 white pines and 1 Norway spruce.
Picked up my plants-ostrich ferns and blue ice amsonia without any problems! Wonderful, responsive owners! Will be buying from them in the future!
Showed up on time and planted it perfectly. I indicated a light we had to illuminate it and they placed it for optimal lighting. Worked fast and left a clean worksite. First rate!
Really great website, communication and installation. Very happy customer and would recommend them.
They delivered three trees: a big linden, a big poplar and a little spice bush with install on the big trees. The install guys were great and professional and fast. All the trees looked good with minimal damage.
I went up there today from Quincy MA to pick up two Blue Wichita Junipers and they were absolutely beautiful. Thank you, Chris and everybody from Pro Growers of New England!
The plants are beautiful and all 13 were consistent in height and width. And at a fraction of the cost of other garden centers. Having the team that delivered them do the planting was one of the best values I can think of. They did a great job from start to finish and even helped me with my watering system which they didn’t have to do!
