The first fern species date to the late Devonian Period, 350 millions years ago. They are vascular plants having tissues that can conduct water and nutrients to their constituent parts. Canadian ferns inhabit three types of habitats: moist, shady forests; crevices in rock faces, especially when sheltered from the full sun; and acid wetlands including bogs and swamps. They originate as fertile spores that may grow into “fiddleheads” that then unfurl as fronds. They produce no flowers or seeds but instead spores are released from sori (singular, sorus) that are usually underneath their leaves or from modified fronds. Many ferns depend on associations with symbiotic soil fungi that make transplantation difficult.
One common way of identifying ferns is by the way the fronds are divided. A few ferns like the Walking Fern are undivided; that is the frond comes straight out of the ground. Once-divided ferns like the Sensitive Fern and Christmas Fern have fronds that have leaflets that are connected to a single stem. Twice-divided ferns, such as the Cinnamon Fern and Ostrich Fern have leaflets that are serrated or scalloped. Thrice-divided ferns, like the Fragile Fern and Maidenhair Fern, have secondary stems that have serrated or scalloped leaflets.
* Indicates non-native species
Backyard Garden codes:
- BB – Butterfly Bed
- FT – Fern Trail
- HF – Horticultural Favourites
- OM – Ontario Meadow
- PT – Plum Tree Garden
- RO – Rockery
- SP – Summy Prairie
- W – Wetland
- WE – Woodland Edge
- WW – Woodland Walk
Bulblet Bladder Fern / Bulblet Fern
Cystopteris bulbifera
Cystoptère bulbifère
Family: Wood fern (Dryopteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: WW, FE
Fronds: Thrice divided
Height: 30–45 cm
Light requirements: Full to part shade.
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Calcareous substrates such as limestone
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Woods, shaded ravines. Common in the Ottawa region.
Wildlife use:
Notes: Named for the dark green “bulblets” on underside of the fronds. Bulblets fall from parent plant and grow into new ferns.
Propagation: Grown from bulblets, but need high moisture and attention.
Provenance: Lis Allison
Fragile Fern
Cystopteris fragilis
Cystoptère fragile
Family: Wood fern (Dryopteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: thrice divided
Height: 10–25 cm
Light requirements: Full to part shade.
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Shaded cliffs and rocky crevices.
Wildlife use:
Notes:
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
Ostrich Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Matteuccie fougère-à-l’autruche
Family: Wood fern (Dryopteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden; OldWoodlot
Backyard garden bed: WW, FE
Fronds: twice divided
Height: 90–120 cm
Light requirements: Sun to partial shade
Moisture requirements: Average to moist
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Slopes, swamps, woods. Common in the Ottawa region.
Wildlife use:
Notes: Nice lush background for natural plantings. Once established it spreads by rhizomes.
Propagation: Not tried.
Provenance: common
Clinton’s Wood Fern
Dryopteris clintoniana
Dryoptére de Clinton
Family: Wood fern (Dryopteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: twice divided
Height: 60–120 cm
Light requirements: Sun to partial shade
Moisture requirements: Moist to wet
Soil: Boggy
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Swamps, woods. Common in the Ottawa region.
Wildlife use:
Notes: Nice lush background for natural plantings. Naturally occurring hybrid between Crested Wood Fern and Goldie’s Fern.
Propagation: Not tried.
Provenance: Liz Alison
Common Lady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina
Athyrie fougère-femelle
Family: Wood fern (Dryopteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden; Old Woodlot
Backyard garden bed: WW, FE
Fronds: thrice divided
Height: 60–100 cm
Light requirements: Shade to part shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: “In various habitats ranging from meadows to open thickets, moist woods and even swamps” (Cody 1956). Common in the Ottawa region.
Wildlife use:
Notes: Delicate, fine-textured fronds. Has not spread at the FWG.
Propagation: Can be propogated from spores following American Fern Society’s instructions. We have grown small plants, and have been able to transplant them into “natural” conditions.
Provenance: Lis Allison
Northern Lady Fern
Athyrium angustum
Athyrie fougère-femelle rouge
Family: Wood fern (Dryopteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden; Old Woodlot
Backyard garden bed: WW, FE
Fronds: thrice divided
Height: 60–100 cm
Light requirements: Shade to part shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat:
Wildlife use:
Notes:
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
Sensitive Fern
Onoclea sensibilis
Onoclée sensible
Family: Wood fern (Dryopteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden; Old Woodlot
Backyard garden bed: WW, FE
Fronds: once divided
Height: 60–90 cm
Light requirements: Shade to part shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Woods edges, ditches. Common in the Ottawa region.
Wildlife use:
Notes: Although called “sensitive,” this fern is easy to grow under a variety of conditions. The name refers to its tendency to wilt and turn brown at the first frost.
Propagation: Spores are on separate “fertile fronds.” Propagation not tried.
Provenance: Lis Allison
Marginal Shield Fern / Marginal Wood Fern
Dryopteris marginalis
Dryoptère à sores marginaux
Family: Wood fern (Dryopteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden; Old Woodlot
Backyard garden bed: WW, FE
Fronds: thrice divided
Height: 10–50 cm
Light requirements: Shade
Moisture requirements: Average to moist
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Woods. Common in the Ottawa region.
Wildlife use:
Notes:
Propagation: Fairly easy to propagate from spores although the process is lengthy.
Provenance: Lis Allison
Spinulose Wood Fern
Dryopteris carthusiana
Dryoptéride spinuleuse
Family: Wood fern (Dryopteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: WW, FE
Fronds: thrice divided
Height: 10–50 cm
Light requirements: Shade
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Moist
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Woods. Common in the Ottawa area.
Wildlife use:
Notes:
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
Crested Wood Fern / Crested Shield Fern
Dryopteris cristata
Dryoptéris à crêtes
Family: Wood fern (Dryopteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: twice divided
Height: 30–100 cm
Light requirements: Shade
Moisture requirements: Wet
Soil:
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Swampy woods, wetland and mossy bogs and fens
Wildlife use:
Notes:
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
Evergreen Wood Fern / Intermediate Wood Fern
Dryopteris intermedia
Dryoptère intermédiaire
Family: Wood fern (Dryopteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: thrice divided
Height: 30–90 cm
Light requirements: shaded
Moisture requirements: Dry to moist
Soil: Rich rocky woods
Natural habitat: Shaded forest
Wildlife use:
Notes: Three-part frond. Forms upright circular clusters.
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Polystic faux-acrostic
Family: Wood fern (Dryopteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: once divided
Height: 30–80 cm
Light requirements: Shade
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat:
Wildlife use:
Notes: Good garden fern as it accommodates a wide range of conditions. Glossy, deep green foliage. Like full to part shade and humusy, well-drained soil. Does not tolerate clay soils or standing water.
Propagation: Sow spores or divide rhizomes in spring.
Provenance: Lis Allison
Northern Holly Fern
Polystichum lonchitis
Polystic en (fer de) lance
Family: Wood fern (Dryopteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: once divided
Height: 25-60 cm (10-24″)
Light requirements: Shade
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Moist
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Deep forests on north facing ledges
Wildlife use:
Notes: Sori in two parallel rows
Propagation: Sow spores or divide rhizomes in spring. Rare.
Provenance: Lis Allison
Braun’s Holly Fern
Polystichum braunii
Polystic de Braun
Family: Wood fern (Dryopteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: Twice divided
Height: 30-90 cm (1 to 3′)
Light requirements: Shade
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Moist
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat:
Wildlife use:
Notes: Sori in two parallel rows
Propagation: Sow spores or divide rhizomes in spring.
Provenance: Lis Allison
(Common) Polypody
Polypodium virginianum
Polystic de Braun
Family: Polypody Family (Polypodiaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: Once divided
Height: 8–40 cm
Light requirements: Shade
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Moist
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat:
Wildlife use:
Notes: Leaves alternate
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
Silvery Spleenwort / Silvery Glade Fern
Deparia acrostichoides
Athyrie fausse-thélyptère
Family: Spleenwort (Aspleniaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: Twice divided
Height: 30–80 cm
Light requirements: Shade
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Rich moist woods
Wildlife use:
Notes: Silvery glade fern; sori are oblong and arranged like a sergeant’s stripes.
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
Walking Fern
Asplenium rhizophylumm
Doradille ambulante
Family: Spleenwort (Aspleniaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: Undivided
Height: 3-45 cm
Light requirements: shaded
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Limestone and moss
Natural habitat: Shaded forest.
Wildlife use:
Notes: Single stalk. One-part frond. Forms “groves.”
Propagation: New ferns grow from the tips of the leaves where they touch the ground.
Provenance: Lis Allison
Northern Maidenhair Fern
Adiantum pedatum
Adiante du Canada
Family: Maidenhair Fern (Pteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden; Old Woodlot
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: Thrice divided
Height: 30–46 cm
Light requirements: Full to partial shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Woods. Uncommon in the Ottawa region.
Wildlife use:
Notes: Grows in colonies arising from horizontal rhizomes (Cody p. 101). Needs special conditions and may not survive at the FWG.
Propagation: Not tried.
Provenance: Sandy Garland (Calabogie area); Lis Allison (Lanark)
Smooth Cliffbrake
Pellaea glabella
Family: Maidenhair Fern (Pteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: Once divided
Height: 30–40 cm
Light requirements: Full to partial shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Fields and open areas; rock ledges and cracks.
Wildlife use:
Notes:
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
Purple-stemmed Cliffbrake
Pellaea atropurpurea
Pellèade à stipe pourpre
Family: Maidenhair Fern (Pteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: Once divided
Height: to 20 cm
Light requirements: Full to partial shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Fields and open areas; rock ledges and cracks.
Wildlife use:
Notes:
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
(American) Royal Fern
Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis
Osmonde royale
Family: Royal fern (Osmundaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: WW, FE
Fronds: Twice divided
Height: 100–200 cm
Light requirements: Full to partial shade
Moisture requirements: Moist
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Cedar bogs, wet meadows, swamps, low-lying woods. Common in the Ottawa region.
Wildlife use:
Notes: Nice texture. Taller and more branched than other local ferns. Difficult to grow in a backyard garden because needs moist conditions.
Propagation: Not tried.
Provenance: Lis Allison
Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Osmonde cannelle
Family: Royal fern (Osmundaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: Twice divided
Height: 100–200 cm
Light requirements: Shade
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Wet
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Medium to wet soils of forests, swamps, and shorelines. Common in the Ottawa area.
Wildlife use:
Notes: Easy to identify when cinnamon-coloured fertile fronds are visible.
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
Interrupted Fern
Claytosmunda claytoniana
Osmonde de Clayton
Family: Royal fern (Osmundaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: Twice divided
Height: 60–120 cm
Light requirements: Shade
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Wet soils of forests. Common in the Ottawa area.
Wildlife use:
Notes: Has the oldest known fossil record of any living fern in the world, for at least 180 million years. “Interrupted” describes the gap in middle of the blade left by the fertile portions after they wither and eventually fall off.
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
Eastern Hay-scented Fern
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Dennstaedtie à lobules ponctués
Family: Bracken fern (Dennstaedtiaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: Twice divided
Height: 50–100 cm
Light requirements: Shade
Moisture requirements: Average to moist
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat:
Wildlife use:
Notes:
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
(Common) Bracken
Dennstaedtia Pteridium aquilinum
Fougère aigle / grande fougère
Family: Bracken fern (Dennstaedtiaceae)
Native to: Cosmopolitan
Location at the FWG:
Backyard garden bed:
Fronds: Thrice divided
Height: 30–100 cm
Light requirements: Shade
Moisture requirements: Average to moist
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat:
Wildlife use:
Notes:
Propagation: spreads easily by spores
Narrow-leaved Glade Fern
Diplazium pycnocarpon
Athyrie à sores denses
Family: Glade fern (Diplaziopsidaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: Once divided
Height: to 90 cm
Light requirements: Shade
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat:
Wildlife use:
Notes:
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
New York Fern
Thelypteris noveboracensis
Thélyptère de New York
Family: Marsh fern (Thelypteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: Twice divided
Height: 30–60 cm
Light requirements:
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Moist woods in filtered light. Grows in large colonies.
Wildlife use:
Notes: Fronds are widest in the middle, tapering at the base.
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
Narrow Beech Fern / Northern Beech Fern / Long Beech Fern
Phegopteris connectilis
Phégoptère à segments joint
Family: Marsh fern (Thelypteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: Twice divided
Height: 15–60 cm
Light requirements:
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Moist
pH: Acidic
Natural habitat: Moist woods or shaded rock crevices
Wildlife use:
Notes: Fronds are triangular.
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
Marsh Fern
Thelypteris palustris
Thélyptère des marais
Family: Marsh fern (Thelypteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG:
Backyard garden bed:
Fronds: Twice divided
Height: 50–60 cm
Light requirements:
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Wet
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Edges of marshes and wet meadows, ditches, or woods; usually in rich, wet soil but not in standing water.
Wildlife use:
Notes: Underside of fronds, on rows of dots near the midvein. Fertile fronds have leaf edges that are slightly rolled over the spore-bearing sori. (http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/ferns/thelypterispalu.html)
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
(Common) Oak Fern / Northern Oak Fern
Gymnocarpium dryopteris
Gymnocarpe fougère-du-chêne ou Dryoptère disjointe
Family: Bladder fern (Cystopteridaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: Thrice divided
Height: 10–20 cm
Light requirements: shade
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Average
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Shaded forest.
Wildlife use:
Notes: Single stalk. Three-part frond. Forms “groves.”
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
Blunt-lobed Cliff Fern
Woodsia obtusa
Woodsie à lobes arrondis
Family: Cliff fern (Woodsiaceae)
Native to: Eastern Ontario
Location at the FWG: Backyard Garden
Backyard garden bed: FE
Fronds: Twice divided
Height: to 60 cm
Light requirements: shade
Moisture requirements: Average
Soil: Neutral or calcareous
pH: Neutral
Natural habitat: Shaded chalky rock faces. South facing.
Wildlife use:
Notes: Endangered in Ontario. 8 to 17 pairs of leaflets. Leaf stalk is straw-coloured and brittle.
Propagation:
Provenance: Lis Allison
References
- Cody, William J. 1973. Ferns of the Ottawa District.
- Muma, Walter. Ontario Ferns.
- Walewski, Joe 2016. Ferns & Allies of the North Woods. Kollath+Stensaas, Duluth, MN.