Blechnum spicant
Common Name: Deer Fern
Blechnum spicant — commonly known as Deer Fern — is a distinctive evergreen to semi-evergreen fern valued for its tidy rosettes of dark green sterile fronds and upright, spore-bearing fertile fronds. Native to cool, moist woodlands, it brings refined texture and year-round structure to shade gardens.
Key features
Width / spread: 1.5–2 ft
Height: 1–2 ft (fertile fronds may reach slightly taller)
Foliage: Dark green; evergreen to semi-evergreen
Frond type: Dimorphic (flat sterile fronds + upright fertile fronds)
Form: Low, clumping rosette
Life cycle: Evergreen fern
Growing conditions
Sun: Shade to part shade (best in full shade)
Soil: Acidic, humus-rich, moist, well-drained
Water: Moderate to high; prefers consistently moist soil
Hardiness:
-
Zone Low: 5a
-
Zone High: 8b
Landscape use
Woodland and shade gardens
Understory plantings
Native and naturalistic landscapes
Evergreen groundcover accents
Fern collections
Notes
Excellent evergreen structure in mild winters
Native to Europe and western North America
Deer resistant
Does not tolerate heat, drought, or alkaline soils
Pairs well with hostas, hellebores, and other woodland plants
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