Dennstaedtia punctilobula

Hay-scented Fern

This common North American native has beautiful hairy fronds, oval-oblong in outline, yellow-green in color, thin textured and smells like new mown hay when crushed. It is found on open sandy meadows and thinly wooded slopes and is the first fern to colonize after a fire denudes a slope. It tends to spread too rapidly for use in a small garden, but is attractive and carefree in larger gardens where there is plenty of room for it to spread as a groundcover. It will thrive in light to medium shade and even open sun if the soil is moist and has good drainage.

Height 15-18 Inches

Spread 3-6 Feet

USDA Hardiness Zone 3-8