Common Lady Fern

Lady fern is a graceful, deciduous fern native across the Northern Hemisphere, with finely divided, lance-shaped fronds that create a soft, feathery texture. Fronds reach two to three feet long and arch outward from a central crown. One of the most adaptable and widely grown garden ferns.

Grow in partial to full shade in moist, humus-rich soil. Lady fern tolerates more sun than many ferns if soil stays consistently moist. It spreads slowly by rhizomes. Cut back tattered fronds in late winter before new fiddleheads emerge. Few pest or disease concerns; slugs may damage young fronds in wet conditions.