Cystopteris fragilis
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cystopteris dickieana
- Polypodium fragile L.
- Phonetic Spelling
- sis-TOP-ter-is FRAJ-ih-liss
- Description
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This fern is wide-spread across the United States, It is easy to cultivate; prefers limed soil; compact rhizome; spreading habit; partial to full shade; goes dormant in dry sites but recovers well once rained upon. Occasionally found in wetlands.
VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cystopteris
- Species:
- fragilis
- Family:
- Aspleniaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Entire Northern Hemisphere and parts of Southern Hemisphere
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy shade, Deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are long narrowly-pointed, twice pinnate, and have fleshy petioles with round sori on the underside
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Shade Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Wet Soil