Phegopteris connectilis
long beech fern
Northern Hemisphere temperate and boreal regions
Overview
Phegopteris connectilis is a deciduous fern with triangular fronds 8-18 inches (20-45 cm) long, held nearly horizontal on slender, dark stalks rising from a thin, creeping rhizome. The blade is pinnately divided, and the lowest pair of leaflets points downward and forward, separated from the rest of the frond, a feature that marks the beech ferns. Fronds are soft, thin-textured, and finely hairy, light green in spring and deepening through summer. Round sori sit near the leaflet margins on the undersides of fertile fronds. The creeping rhizome spreads to form open colonies rather than tight clumps. Fronds die back in autumn and the plant is dormant in winter. It requires cool, moist, shaded conditions and browns quickly in heat, drought, or direct sun.
Native Range
Native across the cool temperate and boreal Northern Hemisphere, including northern North America, Europe, and Asia. Grows in moist, shaded forests, on rocky slopes, ravines, and streambanks, often on acidic, humus-rich soils and shaded rock.Suggested Uses
Planted in shaded woodland gardens, along the north side of buildings, and at the base of shaded rock and water features, spaced 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart. Its spreading habit suits a cool, moist groundcover under trees rather than a confined bed. It combines with other shade plants that share its need for steady moisture.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 1'6"
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Bloom Information
Ferns do not flower. Round sori develop near the leaflet margins on fertile fronds through summer, releasing spores in late summer and autumn. The fern also spreads by its creeping rhizome, which accounts for most colony growth.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
light green to greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 1-4 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
Grows in part to full shade in cool, consistently moist, humus-rich, acidic soil. Keep the soil damp; the thin fronds scorch and brown in dry or sunny conditions. Mulch with leaf litter to hold moisture and mimic forest floor conditions. The rhizome spreads slowly to form loose colonies and needs little care in a suitable shaded site. Few pests or diseases affect it. Spent fronds die back on their own in autumn.Pruning
No pruning is required during the growing season. Dead fronds can be cleared in late autumn or left to break down as mulch over the rhizome. Crowded colonies can be divided in spring as new fronds emerge.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons