Lady Fern

Lady Fern

Lady Fern is a graceful, deciduous fern prized for its delicate, feathery fronds and elegant arching form. With finely divided, light green foliage that unfurls in soft, cascading waves, this fern brings a lush, woodland feel to any shaded space. The fronds can reach up to three feet long, creating a soft, textural backdrop that pairs beautifully with shade-loving perennials like hostas, astilbes, and heucheras.

This fern is remarkably adaptable for a woodland species. It thrives in partial to full shade and prefers rich, moist, well-drained soil. Unlike many of its fern relatives, Lady Fern tolerates drier conditions once established, making it a versatile choice for a range of garden environments. Its elegant presence also works well in naturalized plantings, rain gardens, or along pond edges, where it provides a serene, cooling effect in the landscape.

Low-maintenance and long-lived, Lady Fern is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking structure and soft texture with minimal upkeep. Its clumping habit ensures it won’t become invasive, and it’s generally ignored by deer and rabbits. Whether used as a filler plant in shady beds or massed for dramatic impact, Lady Fern adds timeless beauty and reliable performance to both formal and natural-style gardens.

care instructions:

Planting: Thrives in partial to full shade. Prefers moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil but tolerates drier conditions better than many ferns

Watering: Keep soil consistently moist during establishment; once mature, it endures occasional dry periods 

Pruning: Trim away old or damaged fronds in late fall or early spring to encourage fresh growth 

Propagation: Easily spreads by rhizome division in spring and can also be grown from spores