Struthiopteris spicant ~ Deer Fern, Hard Fern

Struthiopteris spicant ~ Deer Fern, Hard FernDeer Fern is a small fern with two different types of fronds sterile, which are stiff and leathery dark green evergreen fronds that form a loose rosette that may lay horizontal with age, and fertile which stand erect at the center with finer and wider separated leaflets in summer that fade by fall. Best grown in part sun and well drained acidic soils. Syn. with Blechnum spicant. Type: Fern Height: 0. 5 1. 5 Spread: 1 2 Spacing: 1. 5 USDA Hardiness

Deer Fern is a small fern with two different types of fronds-sterile, which are stiff and leathery dark green evergreen fronds that form a loose rosette that may lay horizontal with age, and fertile which stand erect at the center with finer and wider separated leaflets in summer that fade by fall.  Best grown in part sun and well-drained acidic soils.  

Syn. with Blechnum spicant.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low Maintenance.  No serious pests or diseases.  Watch for slugs and caterpillars. 

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Naturalized Areas, Rock Gardens, Hedges, and Containers.

COMPANION PLANTS:  Cast Iron Plant, Holly Fern, Sweet Flag

IMAGES: T. Kebert, Blechnum spicant 7 TK 2021-07-29, CC BY-SA 4.0, (2) Drahkrub, Blechnum spicant-(dkrb)-1, CC BY-SA 4.0, (3) Vaclavko2, Klokoci - zebrovice r, CC BY-SA 4.0, (4) Rosa-Maria Rinkl, Rippenfarn, Zwercheck, CC BY-SA 4.0

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.