Description

Species: Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Common Name: hay-scented fern

Type: Fern

Family: Dennstaedtiaceae

Native Range: Eastern North America

Zone: 3 to 8

Height: 1.50 to 2.00 feet

Spread: 2.00 to 3.00 feet

Bloom Time: Non-flowering

Bloom Description: Non-flowering

Sun: Part shade to full shade

Water: Medium

Maintenance: Medium

Suggested Use: Naturalize

Leaf: Fragrant, Good Fall

Tolerate: Rabbit, Heavy Shade

Garden locations

Culture
Best grown in moist, rich, humusy, acidic, medium moisture loams in part shade to full shade. With consistent moisture, it tolerates full sun. Also tolerates a wide range of soils, including poor rocky soils and, once well established, dry soils. Also tolerates full shade. Spreads aggresively by rhizomes to form colonies.

Noteworthy Characteristics
When brushed with a hand, crushed or bruised, the fronds of hay-scented fern release a fragrance reminiscent of fresh mown hay. This is a deciduous fern that is native to open woods and wooded banks in the eastern and midwestern U. S. Although uncommon in Missouri, it is quite common, almost to the point of being considered weedy, in some parts of its range such as New England. It typically grows to 2’ tall and features lacy, narrow-triangular, erect to arching, yellowish green fronds (to 30” long). Fronds turn yellow in fall. Marginal sori are surrounded by cup-shaped indusia, hence the sometimes used common name of cup fern for plants in the genus Dennstaedtia. Genus honors A. W. Dennstaedt, 18th century German botanist.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. In hot summer climates, fronds tend to decline by late summer.

Garden Uses

Good fern for naturalizing in woodland areas, shade gardens, cottage gardens or wild areas.