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Chain Fern Flower Wikimedia Commons
Blechnaceae

Chain Fern Flower

Woodwardia fimbriata

Ancient wisdom.

Family
Blechnaceae
Genus
Woodwardia
Native to
Western North America
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
perennial fern
Height
4-8 ft
Sunlight
part shade to full shade
Soil
moist, acidic soil
Water
high
Hardiness
8-10
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Giant chain fern is the largest native fern in North America, with individual fronds reaching up to 9 feet long.
  • The common name refers to the chain-like pattern of sori (spore clusters) on the underside of the fronds.
  • Chain ferns are living fossils, with the family Blechnaceae dating back over 200 million years to the Triassic period.
  • Native Americans wove the wiry stipes of chain fern fronds into baskets and used them in traditional dance regalia.
  • In Victorian England, fern collecting became such a craze that it earned its own name: pteridomania, or fern fever.

Color meanings

0

sincerity

1

secret bond

Uses

  • shade garden
  • streamside planting