The eastern marsh fern is a native herbaceous perennial in the spleenwort family (Aspleniaceae). It has a broad distribution across eastern Canada and the USA, as well as Bermuda, Cuba, and parts of Mexico. The species epithet is Latin for “of marshes,” and the subspecies epithet is Latin for “hairy.” The plant prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, sandy soils. It will readily adapt to other soil types but cannot tolerate standing water. This fern has light green, attractive fronds. The ferns can be thinned when they grow too close together. It has a low creeping rhizome from which arise erect to arching fronds. It is a host for the larvae of the marsh fern moth ( Fagitana littera ). The eastern marsh fern can be grown in woodland gardens, alongside ponds, streams or water gardens, and in naturalized, rain or shade gardens. It looks great in mass plantings 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.
Fronds are erect to ascending with an elliptic to lanceolate form. Pinnate with lobed pinna the middle pinna are widest. The frond is 1-2.5 ft long and 4-7 inches across and has 10-40 pairs of leaflets. Sori 9spore bearing structure) are present on the undersides of the smaller fertile leaves.
Flower detail
No flowers.
Fruit detail
No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
Stem color
Cream/Tan; Green; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
The stem is tan to purplish and hairless. The central stalk of the frond and the lateral stalks of the leaflets are finely pubescent on their lower sides.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America, China, and Japan
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Wildlife value
Only known host for the Marsh Fern Moth (Fagitana littera). Small mammals browse the foliage.
Attracts
Moths; Small Mammals
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Pond; Riparian; Woodland
Landscape theme
Native Garden; Rain Garden; Shade Garden; Water Garden