Lowland Fragile Fern
Cystopteris protrusa
A delicate, early-emerging deciduous fern of rich damp woods and shaded slopes. Spreads gently via creeping rhizomes to form soft green carpets. Often goes semi-dormant in hot, dry summers but returns reliably.
- Family
- Cystopteridaceae
- Type
- fern
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 0.5–1.5 ft
- Spacing
- 0.5–1.5 ft apart
- Light
- part shade, shade
- Soil moisture
- moist
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral, alkaline
- Wildlife value
- mammals
- Landscape uses
- groundcover, naturalizing, border
- Native states
- AL, AR, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WI, WV