The hay-scented fern is a deciduous fern (Dennstaedtiaceae family). It is native to eastern Canada through the eastern half of the United States. The genus name honors a German botanist, August Wilhelm Dennstedt (1776–1826). The species epithet is a Latin compound meaning “spotted lobes,” the meaning of which is obscure. Hay-scented fern is easy to cultivate. It spreads rapidly in light shade to sun and is fairly drought-tolerant. It grows in clay, loamy or sandy soil that is neutral or acidic. It also tolerates salt spray. It likes moisture but can tolerate dry soil after maturity. This fern has long, erect to arching, lance-shaped fronds usually widest at the base and are hairy. Yellow-green fronds are thin-textured and bipinnate to pinnate-pinnatisect. Pinnae are subopposite. Stipe is one-fourth to one-third the frond length and brown to shiny red in color. Fronds turn soft yellow in the fall. This fern can prevent woodland tree seedlings from growing due to its dense coverage. Crushed fronds emit the fragrance of freshly mowed hay. Fronds tend to become ragged in late summer. The hay-scented fern can grow in cottage, native or rock gardens or rocky slopes. It can grow in woodland edges or in naturalized areas. Pests, Diseases and Other Plant Problems : None. VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington , Director of JC Raulston Arboretum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Long, erect to arching, lance-shaped fronds usually widest at base. Also hairy. Yellow-green fronds are thin textured, bipinnate to binnate-pinnatifid with an oval-oblong shape. Pinna are closely spaced but not exactly opposite. Has an acute tip. Pinnule are opposite. Fronds turn soft yellow in fall. Crushed fronds emit a fragrance of fresh mowed hay. Tends to become ragged in late summer.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower detail
No flowers.
Fruit detail
No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
One-fourth to one-third the frond length and brown to shinny red in color.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern Canada to U.S.A
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Slope/Bank; Woodland
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Native Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Mass Planting
Garden tags
#deciduous #drought tolerant #salt spray tolerant #NC native #food source summer #food source herbage #Audubon #deer resistant #fern #easy to grow #hairy leaves #buncombe county sun and shade garden #collier preserve tn
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Rabbits; Salt
Particularly resistant to
Deer, drought tolerant, salt spray tolerant, rabbits