Grow chain fern in moist shade. Chain fern is Woodwardia — not a Boston fern.
Keep the soil moist, and give it shade
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Part to full shade; more sun only if the soil stays moist | Do not put it in hot afternoon sun on dry ground |
| Soil | Moist, acidic, humus-rich ground | Do not let the bed dry out |
| Water | Even moisture all season, including a dry week | Do not skip water until the fronds brown |
| Feed | A thin leaf-mold or compost mulch | Do not pile on fertilizer |
| Deer | Giant chain fern and Virginia chain fern resist deer browse in this catalog | Do not treat netted chain fern as deer-proof |
Give chain fern a shady, wet bed and it stays green. Afternoon sun on dry ground browns the fronds, so keep the soil moist if you give it more light. [1] netted chain fern takes that same moist shade, and it will take more sun if you keep the soil wet. [2] giant chain fern, Virginia chain fern, and European chain fern want that same wet shade — they do not become dry-shade plants after the first year.
How much sun does chain fern need?
Part to full shade. More sun works only if the soil stays moist.
Water so the bed does not dry
Keep the soil evenly moist through the growing season. A stream edge, a rain garden, or a hose in a dry week all work, because a dry week is what sends the fronds brown. After the first season, keep watering in drought the same way. For which kind you bought, see Types of Chain Fern.
How often should I water chain fern?
Keep the soil moist all season. Water in a dry week. Do not wait until the fronds crisp.
Cut old fronds after they brown, before new fiddleheads
Deciduous chain ferns turn yellow, then brown, after frost. Evergreen kinds still shed tired fronds. Leave the old fronds until late winter if you want winter cover, then cut them before new fiddleheads show. [3]
- Wait until the fronds are brown, after frost or in late winter.
- Cut the old fronds at the base, before new fiddleheads uncurl.
- Do not cut green fronds in summer to tidy the clump.
- Pull extra mulch back from the crown as the fiddleheads emerge, so they are not smothered. [4]
When do I cut back chain fern?
After the fronds brown, and before new fiddleheads show. Do not cut green fronds in summer.
Does chain fern come back every year?
Yes. Deciduous kinds lose their fronds after frost. New fiddleheads push from the crown or rhizome in spring.
Not a Boston fern, and not a sensitive fern
Chain fern is not a Boston fern. A Boston fern is Nephrolepis, the hanging-basket plant sold for porches — see How to Grow Boston Fern. If a search for Boston fern sent you here, you wanted that houseplant, not this woodland fern.
Netted chain fern is also not sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis). Sensitive fern has opposite pinnae and bead-like fertile fronds. Netted chain fern has pointed, finely toothed pinnae and chain-like sori. It is also not How to Grow Cinnamon Fern, How to Grow Wood Fern, How to Grow Lady Fern, How to Grow Holly Fern, or How to Grow Maidenhair Fern. For which kind you bought, see Types of Chain Fern.
Is chain fern a Boston fern?
No. Chain fern is Woodwardia, a moist-shade garden fern. A Boston fern is Nephrolepis, the hanging-basket plant.
If the fronds crisped, the bed dried out — water, do not move it into hot sun on dry ground.
FAQ
Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes, in a large pot that never dries, in shade. Water whenever the mix is not wet. This is a big woodland clump, not a windowsill fern.
What pests hit chain fern?
Serious insect trouble is uncommon. Brown fronds usually mean the bed dried out. Water the soil, and do not spray as the first step.
Can I eat the fiddleheads?
No. The edible fiddlehead sold in spring is ostrich fern. Leave chain-fern croziers on the plant.
What else can I plant with it?
Pair it with other moist-shade plants that can take even water. Keep thirsty neighbors, not a dry-ridge perennial, next to the crown.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/woodwardia-areolata/ - [2] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center -
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=WOAR - [3] Royal Horticultural Society -
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/19130/woodwardia-radicans/details - [4] Iowa State University Extension -
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/growing-ferns-iowa
This note is part of Woodwardia Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors