Thelypteris palustris (Eastern Marsh Fern)
Eastern Marsh Fern, Marsh Fern, Ground Fern, Marsh Buckler Fern
An extremely elegant fern, Thelypteris palustris (Eastern Marsh Fern) is a deciduous fern with erect to ascending, fine-textured, pinnate-pinnatifid, lanceolate, light green fronds, 6-24 in. long (15-60 cm). They feature approximately 10-40 pinnae (leaflets) that are deeply cut into smaller, oblong subleaflets. Often, the fronds and their leaflets are slightly curved and twisted. The fertile fronds tend to be a little smaller than the sterile fronds, and produce round sori near the margins of the pinnae. The spores are produced and released during the summer or fall. Eastern Marsh Fern can multiply by spreading rhizomes and form dense colonies. Native to eastern North America and across Eurasia, Eastern Marsh Fern is well-suited for massing along streams and ponds in sun or light shade.
- Grows up to 6-24 in. tall (15-60 cm) and 12-15 in. wide (30-37 cm).
- Performs best in full sun or light shade in wet to moist, sandy acid soils. It does not like too much standing water or dense shade.
- This plant is a good choice for cottage gardens, bog gardens, rain gardens, 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 North America and across Eurasia.
Buy Thelypteris palustris (Eastern Marsh Fern)
Requirements
Hardiness | 5
– 10 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 5
– 8 |
Plant Type | Ferns |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 6" – 2' (15cm – 60cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 15" (37cm) |
Water Needs | Average, High |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas |
Tolerance | Deer, Wet Soil |
Attracts | Birds |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |
Homer Edward Price, Flickr, josefauer, Shutterstock
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 5
– 10 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 5
– 8 |
Plant Type | Ferns |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 6" – 2' (15cm – 60cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 15" (37cm) |
Water Needs | Average, High |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas |
Tolerance | Deer, Wet Soil |
Attracts | Birds |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |