Thelypteris noveboracensis (New York Fern)

Thelypteris noveboracensis (New York Fern) is a soft, deciduous fern with fine-textured, pinnate-pinnatifid, ellipitical and tapering, light yellow-green fronds, 8-25 in. long (20-62 cm). They feature approximately 20 pinnae (leaflets) that are deeply cut into smaller, oblong and rounded subleaflets. The fertile fronds are larger and more upright than the sterile fronds, and produce a few small, circular sori near the margins of the pinnae.

Thelypteris noveboracensis (New York Fern) is a soft, deciduous fern with fine-textured, pinnate-pinnatifid, ellipitical and tapering, light yellow-green fronds, 8-25 in. long (20-62 cm). They feature approximately 20 pinnae (leaflets) that are deeply cut into smaller, oblong and rounded subleaflets. The fertile fronds are larger and more upright than the sterile fronds, and produce a few small, circular sori near the margins of the pinnae. This fern grows in clumps of three or more fronds along a dark brown, slightly scaly rhizome. This fern can multiply very quickly to form dense colonies. Native to eastern North America, New York Fern is well-suited for massing along streams and ponds in shade or filtered sun. It makes a good companion for spring ephemerals, covering the gaps they leave in the woodland garden.

  • Grows up to 1-2 ft. tall (30-60 cm) and 1-3 ft. wide (30-90 cm).
  • Performs best in part shade to full shade in humus-rich, moist, well-drained soils. Will spread less, but survive in dry conditions.
  • This plant is a great choice for shady beds and borders, cottage gardens, woodland gardens or containers.
  • No serious pest or disease problems. Deer resistant.
  • Remove faded fronds regularly and divide plants when crowded.
  • Propagate by rhizome division or spores.
  • Found throughout the eastern United States and Canada, from Louisiana to Newfoundland, but most concentrated within Appalachia and the Atlantic Northeast.

Requirements

Hardiness 3
– 8

Plant Type Ferns
Plant Family Dryopteris – Ferns, Polypodium – Ferns
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)Summer (Early,Mid,Late)Fall
Height 8"
– 2'
(20cm
– 60cm)
Spread 1'
– 3'
(30cm
– 90cm)
Spacing 24″
– 36″
(60cm
– 90cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma
Tolerance Deer, Wet Soil
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage