Walking Fern is native to eastern North America. It is a small, evergreen herbaceous perennial in the Spleenwort family (Aspleniaceae). Walking fern grows in tufts in moist, shady, rocky cliffs, mossy rocks, and near streams or ravines. It often grows on basic limestone rocks but is sometimes also found on sandstone or other acidic rocks. It also grows on fallen tree trunks. The species epithet means “root-leaf” and refers to this fern’s mode of vegetative reproduction. Walking Fern prefers light to dense shade, thin rocky soil, and areas sheltered from strong winds. It requires abundant moisture and high humidity. The plant has a short rhizomatous crown and shallow fibrous roots. The leaves have a narrow or elongated, triangular shape that taper to a very slender tip. Fronds are highly variable in size on the same plant. Undersides are lighter green than the dark green upper sides. It reproduces through spore dispersal and also propagates vegetatively. Frond tips root where they touch moist soil, forming colonies of new ferns around the parent plant and thereby “walking” in slow motion. It is considered endangered or threatened in a few U.S. states where it is near the edge of its range, including North Carolina. This species is suitable for shady woodlands, native plant gardens, and areas around water features, where the humidity remains high. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant problems: Does not tolerate prolonged drought. May be susceptible to slugs, snails and some species of aphids. 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.
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 2 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 2 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Clumping
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Fronds; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Deltoid; Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire; Sinuate; Undulate
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Simple, arching, lance-shaped, slightly leathery fronds radiate from base. Fronds of young plants are close to the ground. Fronds are smooth, dark green, elongated and triangular and highly variable in size on the same plant. Dimensions range from 0.5 to 12 inches in length by 0.25 to 2 inches wide. Simple, narrow deltate to linear lanceolate leaves taper to a very long slender tip. The base of the blade is chordate or has eared lobes (auriculate). Margins are entire or sinuate, and slightly undulate. Undersides are lighter green, have sparse hairs and sori arranged in a herringbone pattern outward toward the leaf margin.
Flower detail
No flowers
Fruit detail
No fruits. Spores display from May to October.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Green, smooth
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
E. Canada to U.S.A.
Distribution
Ontario, Quebec, U.S. - ALA, ARK, CONN, D.C., GA, ILL, IND, IOWA, KANS, ME, MD, MA, MICH, MINN, MISS, MO, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, TN, VT, VA, WV, WI