Northwest
Native Ferns
|
Species of
the Pteridaceae (fern) family native to the Pacific
Northwest: Washington, Oregon,
California and some Canadian Provinces |
|
Adiantum aleuticum |
Aleutian Maidenhair |
Adiantum capillus-veneris
L. |
Common Maidenhair |
Adiantum L. |
Maidenhair Fern |
Adiantum jordanii |
California Maidenhair |
Argyrochosma |
False Cloak Fern |
Argyrochosma jonesii |
Jones' False Cloak Fern |
Argyrochosma limitanea |
Southwestern False Cloak
Fern |
Argyrochosma limitanea
ssp. limitanea |
Southwestern False Cloak
Fern |
Aspidotis carlotta-halliae |
Tufted Lacefern |
Aspidotis californica |
California Lacefern |
Astrolepis cochisensis |
Cochise Scaly Cloakfern |
Astrolepis cochisensis
ssp. cochisensis |
Cochise Scaly Cloakfern |
Aspidotis |
Lacefern |
Astrolepis |
Cloakfern |
Athyrium filix-femina
var. cyclosorum |
Lady Fern, Common Lady-Fern |
Blechnum spicant |
Deer Fern, Hard Fern |
Cheilanthes clevelandii |
Cleveland's Lipfern |
Cheilanthes cooperae |
Cooper's Lipfern |
Cheilanthes covillei |
Coville's Lipfern |
Cheilanthes |
Lipfern |
Cheilanthes feei |
Slender Lipfern |
Cheilanthes gracillima |
Lace Lipfern |
Cheilanthes intertexta |
Coastal Lipfern |
Cheilanthes newberryi |
Newberry's Lipfern |
Cheilanthes parryi |
Parry's Lipfern |
Cheilanthes viscida |
Viscid Lipfern |
Cheilanthes wootonii |
Beaded Lipfern |
Cryptogramma
acrostichoides |
American Rockbrake |
Cryptogramma cascadensis |
Cascade Rockbrake |
Cryptogramma sitchensis |
Sitka Rockbrake |
Cryptogramma stelleri |
Fragile Rockbrake |
Cryptogramma |
Rockbrake |
Dryopteris arguta |
Coastal Shield Fern |
Notholaena californica |
California Cloak Fern |
Notholaena californica
ssp. californica |
California Cloak Fern |
Notholaena californica
ssp. leucophylla |
California Cloak Fern |
Notholaena |
Cloak Fern |
Pellaea andromedifolia |
Coffee Cliffbrake |
Pellaea brachyptera |
Sierra Cliffbrake |
Pellaea breweri |
Brewer's Cliffbrake |
Pellaea bridgesii |
Bridges' Cliffbrake |
Pellaea gastonyi |
Gastony's Cliffbrake |
Pellaea glabella |
Smooth Cliffbrake |
Pellaea glabella ssp.
simplex |
Smooth Cliffbrake |
Pellaea Link |
Cliffbrake |
Pellaea mucronata |
Birdfoot Cliffbrake |
Pellaea mucronata ssp.
californica |
California Cliffbrake |
Pellaea mucronata ssp.
mucronata |
Birdfoot Cliffbrake |
Pentagramma |
Goldback Fern |
Pentagramma pallida |
Pale Silverback Fern |
Pellaea truncata |
Spiny Cliffbrake |
Pentagramma triangularis |
Goldback Fern |
Pentagramma triangularis
ssp. maxonii |
Maxon's Goldback Fern |
Pentagramma triangularis
ssp. semipallida |
Goldback Fern |
Pentagramma triangularis
ssp. triangularis |
Goldback Fern |
Pentagramma triangularis
ssp. viscosa |
Silverback Fern |
Polypodium glycyrrhiza |
Licorice Fern |
Polystichum munitum |
Sword Fern |
Pteris cretica L. |
Cretan Brake |
Pteris cretica L. var.
cretica |
Cretan Brake |
Pteris L. |
Brake Fern |
Pteris multifida |
Spider Brake |
Pteris tremula |
Australian Brake |
Pteris vittata L. |
Ladder Brake |
Woodwardia fimbriata |
Giant Chain Fern |
|
General Information About Ferns |
The definition of "fern" depends on where
you are looking. Ask "what is a fern" on Google and prepare to spend hours
following the paths that come in the answer list. For instance, Wikipedia, the
free online encyclopedia says this:
"A fern is any one of a group of
about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as
Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem (making them
vascular plants). They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular
plants. Ferns reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fern
The website for Wiki answers has this:
"'Fern' is a generic term used to
describe a group of plants with common physical and biological features.
Ferns are seedless, vascular plants that have roots, stems and fronds. They
reproduce by spores and do not produce flowers like angiosperms."
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_a_fern
And the website, About Ferns, returns this
answer:
"Fern Plants will grow just about
anywhere, if proper care is given. There is a species of fern that can
inhabit nearly every condition on the planet. Fern plants add a nice touch
to any garden. There are fern plants that are vividly colored and most will
survive best in shaded regions."
www.aboutferns.com/fern_plants.shtml
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Species Information For Ferns
Click on links below for
photos and details of each plant. |
As yet, not all northwest native
ferns are covered in this website, though that may be done some time in the
future. For now, we have information about only seven of our northwest native
ferns. |
Adiantum aleuticum (Maidenhair Fern, Aleutian Maidenhair, Five-Fingered
Fern, Serpentine Maidenhair): A deciduous, delicate, and dainty fern, growing from 1 –
2’ tall. Strong, shiny purple-black stems grow erect and split in two, from
which fan horizontal fronds of tiny leaflets, spreading like the fingers of a
hand. |
|
Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum ( Lady Fern,
Common Lady-Fern): An excellent deciduous native
fern which may reach 6’ tall. Spreading fan-like from their base, the fronds
each form a diamond of feathery foliage. Select a sheltered spot to protect the
delicate, yellow-green herbage from wind damage. Lady fern likes moist, even
boggy, soil and shade. |
|
Blechnum spicant (Deer fern, Hard Fern): A fine evergreen native fern,
reaching heights of only 12-24." The low-growing sterile fronds spread
horizontally from a basal tuft, while the fertile fronds are thin and deciduous
and grow erect, directly from the center of the clump. The specimen at lower
right growing in a private garden in Oregon's Willamette Valley is a fine mature
example of this growth habit. |
|
Dryopteris arguta (Coastal Shield Fern, Coastal Wood
Fern, Wood Fern): A beautiful evergreen fern.
Tolerating more sun than other northwest ferns, this species is found growing on
steep wooded slopes or on sunny riverbanks along the Pacific coast, west of the
Cascades, and into Arizona. |
|
Polypodium glycyrrhiza (Licorice Fern,
Many-Footed Fern, Sweet Root): A highly unusual, eye-catching fern to
2’ tall, Licorice Fern grows directly out of moss on rocks and tree limbs. It is
found mostly on Big Leaf Maples and Garry Oaks. Having an opposite dormant
season, the Licorice Fern will dry up in summer drought, only to green up
immediately with the first fall rains and stay green all winter.
Photo credit: J. Brew |
|
Polystichum munitum (Sword Fern, Christmas Fern Sword
Holly Fern): A magnificent
evergreen fern, the Sword Fern is the centerpiece of the native garden. The
long-time darling of flower arrangers the world over, Sword Fern is a must for
every cut-flower enthusiast. Sword Fern forms massive clumps with fronds 2-5’ in
length. These perfectly symmetrical fronds grow erect or arch slightly. Large
clumps can have up to 100 fronds and are stunning. |
|
Woodwardia fimbriata
(Giant Chain Fern): A very large fern with evergreen fronds reaching
4 to 6 feet long. In wet coastal areas this fern can be 9 feet tall. Natural
preferences for part shade conditions, moist stream banks or boggy areas. It
will grow in full sun if it gets enough water. It's a possibility for
container gardens. I imagine one of these big boys in a large pot beside the
front door. Impressive! Photo credit:
Ken Morse
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