Choose a New York fern, a marsh fern, or a southern shield fern first.
Choose a New York fern, a marsh fern, or a southern shield fern first
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Woodland taper | New York fern — 1 to 2 ft, tapers at both ends | Do not buy it for a sunny wet marsh |
| Wet-sun rain garden | Marsh fern — 1 to 2.5 ft, more sun if the soil stays wet | Do not buy it for a dry woodland strip |
| Southern groundcover | Southern shield fern — 2 to 4 ft in heat | Do not buy it expecting a 1 to 2 ft New York fern |
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2023 USDA ZIP listings (PRISM / USDA-ARS). Find Your USDA Hardiness Zone · Official USDA map.
The first choice is habit. New York fern is the tapering woodland fern of eastern shade, about 1 to 2 feet. [1] marsh fern is the wet-ground fern. It takes more sun than New York fern if the soil stays wet, and it is not a plant for standing water. [2] southern shield fern is the larger southern clump, 2 to 4 feet, for heat and humidity. Fronds bronze before they die back. [3] Read the Latin on the tag before you buy, because shop names still say wood fern and maidenhair.
Which maiden fern should I plant?
Buy New York fern for a tapering woodland clump, marsh fern for a wet rain-garden strip, or southern shield fern for a 2 to 4 ft southern groundcover.
Is New York fern a marsh fern?
No. New York fern tapers at both ends in moist woods. Marsh fern wants wet ground and will take more sun if that ground stays wet.
Browse by kind
Match the habit, then pick that kind. Care for the clump you already have on How to Grow Maiden Fern.
New York ferns
New York fern is the eastern woodland kind. The blade is widest in the middle and tapers to tiny leaflets at both ends, about 1 to 2 feet tall. It is not hay-scented fern.
Marsh ferns
marsh fern is the wet-ground kind, about 1 to 2.5 feet, with the middle pinnae widest. It takes full sun if the soil stays wet, and it is not a dry-woods New York fern.
Southern shield ferns
southern shield fern is the southern groundcover, with arching fronds 2 to 4 feet long. It handles heat and humidity, then turns bronze before it sheds. Shop tags also say southern maiden fern or river fern.
Southern shield fern is also sold as wood fern east of central Texas and as river fern farther west. That tag is still southern shield fern, not Dryopteris. [4] Set the clump you picked on Planting Maiden Fern.
If you wanted the tapering woodland clump, buy New York fern — marsh fern is the one for wet sun, and southern shield fern is the 2 to 4 ft southern groundcover.
FAQ
Are Parathelypteris and Pelazoneuron different plants?
They are newer genus names for plants already in this list. Parathelypteris noveboracensis is New York fern. Pelazoneuron kunthii is southern shield fern.
Is Thelypteris normalis in this list?
That is an older name for southern shield fern. If the tag says Thelypteris normalis or Christella, it is still the southern clump in this catalog, not a fourth kind.
Is southern shield fern a wood fern?
Shop tags sometimes say wood fern. Southern shield fern is still Thelypteris kunthii, not Dryopteris.
Related guides
References
- [1] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/thelypteris-noveboracensis/ - [2] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/thelypteris-palustris-subsp-pubescens/ - [3] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/thelypteris-kunthii/ - [4] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center -
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=THKU
This note is part of Thelypteris Guides.
More type comparisons by plant are gathered in Types of Plants Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors