Plant maiden fern in spring or fall, with the crown at the soil surface. A buried crown rots.
Plant in spring or fall, with the crown at the soil surface
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Spring or fall, while the soil is workable | Do not plant into peak summer heat |
| Crown | At or just above the soil surface, as it sat in the pot | Do not bury the crown an inch or more |
| Spacing | About 1 to 3 feet | Do not pack the crowns tight |
| Marsh site | Moist soil at the pond edge or in a rain garden | Do not sink the crown in a pond basket of standing water |
Spring planting lets roots settle before heat. Fall planting works while the soil is still warm and moist. Set the crown at soil level, or a little high, so it is not buried. [1] Keep that same height when you replant a division. New York fern takes the same crown height as southern shield fern. Match the kind on Types of Maiden Fern before you pack a southern clump next to a small woodland strip.
When should I plant maiden fern?
Spring or fall, while the soil is workable. Do not plant into peak summer heat.
How deep do I plant the crown?
At or just above the soil surface, as it sat in the pot. Burying the crown is the main reason it rots.
How to plant maiden fern
- Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and about twice as wide. Mix leaf mold or compost into the backfill if the soil is thin.
- Set the plant so the crown sits at or just above the surrounding soil. Do not bury it.
- Leave about 1 to 3 feet between plants so the rhizomes can run without stacking crowns. [2]
- For marsh fern, plant in moist ground beside the water or in a rain garden. Do not drop the pot into a pond basket under the waterline. [3]
- Backfill, firm lightly, and water in until the root zone is wet.
- Mulch about 2 inches of shredded leaves, kept an inch or two off the crown.
southern shield fern takes that same 1 to 3 feet. [4]
How far apart should I plant maiden fern?
About 1 to 3 feet. Do not pack the crowns tight.
Divide a crowded clump
Creeping rhizomes are the reliable way to make more plants. Lift the clump in early spring as fiddleheads start, or in fall while the soil is still warm. Cut between growing points so each piece has a bud, a length of rhizome, and roots, then replant at the same crown height.
- Loosen the soil and lift a section of the colony.
- Expose the creeping rhizome and find live buds or tips.
- Cut 2- to 3-inch sections, each with roots and a growing point.
- Replant at the original crown height, then water until new fronds show.
Can I divide an established clump?
Yes, in early spring or in fall. Each piece needs a bud, rhizome, and roots. Replant at the same crown height.
A crown buried under an inch of soil sits wet and rots. Mulch piled on the growing point does the same job. A summer plant-out in dry shade wilts before roots catch. Care after the plant is in is on How to Grow Maiden Fern.
If the crown sits under an inch of soil, lift it so the growing point is at the surface, then water it in.
FAQ
Can I grow maiden fern from spores?
Yes, but it is slow. Buy a plant or divide a rhizome if you want a clump this season.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Iowa State University Extension -
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/growing-ferns-iowa - [2] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/thelypteris-noveboracensis/ - [3] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/thelypteris-palustris-subsp-pubescens/ - [4] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/thelypteris-kunthii/
This note is part of Thelypteris Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors