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Blechnum spicant
deer fern
Circumboreal: western North America, Europe, and East Asia
Container Friendly
Native to North America
Overview
Blechnum spicant is an evergreen fern that forms a low rosette of spreading sterile fronds with taller, erect fertile fronds rising from the center. The sterile fronds are 8-20 inches (20-50 cm) long, leathery, and once-divided into many narrow, closely set segments, deep green and lying in a flattened circular spray. The fertile fronds stand upright to 24 inches (60 cm), with much narrower, well-spaced segments bearing linear bands of spore cases on their undersides; they appear in summer and wither after releasing spores, while the sterile fronds persist through winter. New fronds unfurl bright green in spring from a short, scaly crown. The plant spreads slowly into clumps but does not run. Native to cool, humid forests across the Northern Hemisphere, it grows in acidic soils rich in leaf litter and decaying wood, in shade to part shade. It needs consistent moisture and declines in dry or alkaline ground or in full afternoon sun. Growth is slow, and a full clump takes several years to develop.
Native Range
Blechnum spicant has a circumboreal distribution, native to western and central Europe, eastern Asia including Japan, and western North America from Alaska to California. In North America it is most abundant in the moist coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest.Suggested Uses
Grown as groundcover in shaded woodland gardens and along the north side of buildings. Used in moist, acidic borders with other shade ferns, mosses, and woodland perennials. Suited to rain gardens and stream banks where soil stays damp.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years
Bloom Information
Ferns do not flower. Spores ripen on the undersides of the erect fertile fronds in late summer, carried in continuous brown bands along each narrow segment. After the spores are shed the fertile fronds collapse, while the sterile fronds remain green over winter.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
deep greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Blechnum spicant grows in part shade to full shade on moist, acidic soil high in organic matter. It establishes from divisions taken in spring or from spores, and roots slowly into cool, damp ground. Consistent moisture is needed; the fronds brown at the edges in dry soil or exposed sun. Mulching with leaf litter or composted bark maintains the acidic, humus-rich conditions it depends on. It tolerates winter cold and stays evergreen in USDA zones 4-8. It does not tolerate alkaline soils or prolonged drought.Pruning
Pruning is limited to removing dead or weathered fronds. Old fertile fronds can be cut away after they collapse in autumn, and tattered sterile fronds trimmed in early spring before new growth unfurls.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons