Cystopteris bulbifera (Bulblet Bladder Fern)

Very fast-growing, Cystopteris bulbifera (Bulblet Bladder Fern) is a graceful, deciduous fern forming a loose rosette of ascending to widely spreading fronds, 10-20 in. long (25-50 cm), tapering gradually to a very long apex. Slender, the light green fronds feature 10-25 pairs of nearly sessile leaflets that have 5-15 pairs of toothed subleaflets. Bulblet Bladder Fern has a unique asexual reproduction method. It produces small, green fleshy bulblets on the underside of the fronds near the axils of the leaflets. They may fall to the ground and form a new plant. It also reproduces from spores that get dispersed by the wind. Fiddleheads appear in early spring on bright red to maroon stems sparsely covered in tiny, pale scales. Native to North America, Bulblet Bladder Fern occurs naturally near mossy stone walls, cliffs, and boulders. Use this plant in a woodland setting and provide consistent moisture.

• Grows up to 1-2 ft. tall and wide (30-60 cm).
• Performs best in part shade to full shade in loam or shallow rocky, neutral, wet to consistently moist, well-drained soils. This fern prefers sheltered locations with high humidity where there is little competition from other plants.
• This plant is a great choice for shady beds and borders, cottage gardens, woodland gardens, or along ponds and streams.
• No serious pest or disease problems. Deer resistant.
• Remove faded fronds regularly and divide plants when crowded.
• Propagate by rhizome division or spores.
• Native to eastern Canada, the midwestern and eastern United States.