mitchella repens

MITCHELLA REPENS

Wetland indicators

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the principal federal agency dealing with information on wetlands, has over the years researched species of plants and their probability of being found in wetlands.

A product of this work are wetland indicators, which include five basic designations and options for gradients in between. The implications for landscapers is that the designations can suggest relative moisture requirements for plants. For example, a wetland species will almost certainly require constant moisture, while an upland species can manage with dryer habitats.

Codes have been assigned to many native species. A summary of names and definitions:

OBL - Obligate Wetland. Probability of 99 percent that it occurs naturally in wetlands.

FACW - Facultative Wetland. Usually found in wetland, with a probability of 67 to 99 percent, but occasionally is found in non-wetlands.

FAC - Facultative. Equally likely to be found in wetlands or non-wetlands, with a probability of 34 to 66 percent in wetlands.

FACU - Facultative Upland. Usually occurs in non-wetlands, with a probability of 1 to 33 percent of being found in wetlands.

UPL - Obligate Upland. Occurs almost always naturally in non-wetlands, probability of 99 percent.

Occasionally found is the indicator "NI," which means insufficient information is available to assign an indicator status.

About Pennystone

The Pennystone Project provides information relating to sustainable landscape practices using native species, with emphasis on the northeastern counties of Pennsylvania.

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Ferns and fern allies - northeastern Pennsylvania

Introduction

More than 80 species of ferns and fern allies (i.e., club mosses and horsetails) are considered native to Pennsylvania and identified as having distribution in the northeastern counties. Of them, 47 species are reported as commercially available from a variety of reputable nurseries within the United States and 37 appear to be unavailable.

Many of those which are not available are rare, have highly specific habitat requirements, or are natural hybrids of species found in the wild. The most dramatic landscape ferns are common in the marketplace.

Three species are unpalatable to deer and aggressive spreaders, making them ideal woodland alternatives to lawns (no mowing, no leaf raking, no fertilizing, thrive in acidic dry shade, and conservation of water all at once). Forming vast colonies of green are:

  • Dennstaedtia punctilobula (Hayscented fern)
  • Pteridium aquilinum (Northern bracken fern)
  • Thelypteris noveboracensis (New York fern)

Criteria for listing the species here are:

  • Availability at least by mail order as seed or live plants from a legitimate nursery in the United States
  • Reported as native to Pennsylvania and identified as being found in Carbon, Monroe, Pike or Wayne Counties, especially in all or several. This suggests the region contains suitable habitat for the species to be successfully grown.

The 47 entries on this list are organized in the following manner:

Latin (or scientific) name*
Common name(s)
A brief description of natural habitat - i.e., where it - nature
US Fish and Wildlife Service wetland indicators when available
Length of fronds in varied habitats
Rhizome characteristics, an indication of spreading traits
Suggestions for home cultivation, including light requirements, moisture, soil description, and if available soil pH range and preference
How relatively easy it is to find in the commercial marketplace, in the context of nationwide mail order nurseries
*Sometimes scientific names have recently changed and not all literature has yet caught up. Where it seems helpful, we have also included "AKA" - also known as.

 

Adiantum pedatum

Northern maidenhair - rich, deciduous woodlands, often on humus-covered talus slopes and moist lime soils; FAC-. Fronds 12 to 30 inches; rhizome: short creeping. Grow in part shade to shade in moist sandy organic loam, pH 5-7; commonly available, including many garden centers.

Asplenium platyneuron

Ebony spleenwort - forest floor or on rocks, often invading masonry and disturbed soils; FACU. Fronds 8 to 18 inches; rhizome: short creeping to ascending. Grow in part shade to shade in dry to moist sandy clay loam, pH 5-7.5; several sources.

Asplenium trichomanes

Maidenhair spleenwort - acidic rocks such as sandstone, basalt, and granite, very rarely on calcareous rocks. Fronds 4 to 7 inches; rhizome: short creeping to ascending. Grow in part shade to shade in dry to moist rocky, humusy loam, pH 4-7.5; very few sources

Athyrium filix-femina

Lady fern - wooded valleys along streams, on rich wooded slopes and on floors of ravines, swamps, moist meadows and thickets; FAC. Fronds 12 to 24 inches; rhizome: erect or ascending in clumps. Grow in sun to part shade in moist rich sandy loam, pH 4-7; commonly available, including many garden centers.

Botrychium virginianum

Rattlesnake fern - moist shaded forests, wooded slopes and shrubby second growth, rare or absent in arid regions; FACU. Fronds 6 to 20 inches, rhizome: erect, subterranean. Grow in part shade to shade in moist rich sandy loam, pH 4-6; very few sources.

Camptosorus rhizophyllus

Walking fern - shaded, usually moss-covered boulders and ledges, usually on limestone or other basic rocks, but occasionally on sandstone or other acidic rocks, rarely on fallen tree trunks. Fronds 4 to 10 inches; rhizome: ascending. Grow in part shade to shade in dry to moist calcareous loam, pH 6.5-7.5; very few sources.

Cheilanthes lanosa

Hairy lip fern - rocky slopes and ledges, on a variety of substrates including limestone and granite, mostly eastern Poconos. Fronds 6 to 16 inches; rhizome: short creeping. Grow in part sun to shade in dry sandy loam, pH 5-6; very few sources.

Cystopteris bulbifera

Bublet bladder fern - typically moist calcareous cliffs, but also grows on rock in dense woods and occasionally occurs terrestrially in northern swamps; FAC. Fronds 18 to 36 inches; rhizome: short creeping. Grow in part shade to shade in moist calcareous loam, pH 6.5 to 7.5; very few sources.

Cystopteris fragilis

Fragile fern - commonly on cliff faces, also in thin alkaline soil over rock; FACU. Fronds 5 to 16 inches; rhizome: compact. Grow in part shade to shade in moist to wet garden soil; very few sources.

Dennstaedtia punctilobula

Hay scented fern - rocky slopes, meadows, woods, stream banks, and roadsides, in acid soils. Fronds 15 to 30 inches, rhizome: very long-creeping. Grow in sun to part shade in dry, well drained sandy and acidic loam, pH 4-6. Aggressive spreader; forms vast colonies, especially where deer pressure is high because deer ignore it; commonly available.

Deparia acrostichoides

Silvery glade fern - along stream edges, river banks and damp woods, often on shaly slopes; FAC. Fronds to 40 inches; rhizome: short creeping. Grow in part sun to shade in moist acidic sandy loam, pH 5-7 but prefers 5 to 5.7; very few sources.

Diphasiastrum tristachyum

Deep-rooted running-pine - sterile, acidic soils in open coniferous forests and oak forests, sandy barrens and clearings. Stems 6 to 12 inches; rhizome: short creeping. Grow in part shade to shade in moist acidic humusy loam; very few sources.

Diplazium pycnocarpon

Narrow-leaved glade fern - wooded glades and alluvial thickets, neutral soil, but not in ridge and valley provinces; FAC. Fronds 18 to 40 inches; rhizome: short creeping. Grow in part shade in moist organic circumneutral garden loam; very few sources.

Dryopteris carthusiana

Spinose wood fern - swampy woods, moist wooded slopes, stream banks, and conifer plantations; FAC+. Fronds 12 to 36 inches; rhizome: ascending crown. Grow in part sun to shade in moist organic loam; commonly available.

Dryopteris clintoniana

Clinton's wood fern - deep humus in swampy woods, especially maple swamps. Prefers wet mucky woods, thickets; FACW+. Fronds 24 to 48 inches; rhizome: short creeping. Grow in part shade to shade in moist to wet rich silty loam, pH 4-6; very few sources.

Dryopteris cristata

Crested shield fern - swamps, swampy woods, or open shrubby wetlands; prefers wet mucky woods, thickets; FACW+. Fronds 12 to 36 inches, rhizome: short creeping. Grow in part shade to shade in moist rich silty loam, pH 4-6; very few sources.

Dryopteris goldiana

Goldie's wood fern - dense, moist woods, especially ravines, limey seeps, or at the edge of swamps, in deep humus; FAC+. Fronds 36 to 48 inches, rhizome: short creeping. Grow in part shade to shade in moist rich humusy loam, pH 4-7; commonly available.

Dryopteris intermedia

Evergreen wood fern - moist rocky woods, especially hemlock hardwoods, ravines, and edges of swamps; FACU. Fronds 18 to 36 inches. Rhizome: erect crown Grow in part shade to shade in moist organic loam, pH 4.5 to 7.5; very few sources.

Dryopteris marginalis

Marginal wood fern - rocky, wooded slopes and ravines, edges of woods, stream banks and road banks, and rock walls; FACU-. Fronds 18 to 30 inches, rhizome: erect crown. Grow in part sun to shade in moist rich sandy loam, pH 5-6; commonly available, including many garden centers.

Equisetum arvense

Field horsetail - moist roadsides, riverbanks, fields, marshes, pastures, and tundra; FAC. Stems 8 to 18 inches, rhizome: long creeping. Grow in sun to part sun in moist rich sandy loam; very few sources.

Equisetum fluviatile

Water horsetail - standing water; in ponds, ditches, marshes, swales, edges of rivers and lakes; OBL. Stems 24 to 26 inches; rhizome: short creeping. Grow in sun to part sun in ponds and pond edges or frequently inundated or poorly drained low area with a base of silty loam; very few sources.

Equisetum hyemale var. affine

Scouring-rush - riverbanks, lakeshores and woodlands; moist sandy and gravelly slopes; stream banks, embankments and roadsides; FACW. Stems 14 to 48 inches; rhizome: creeping. Grow in sun to part shade in rich moist sandy loam. Can be difficult to control because of deep rhizomes; commonly available.

Equisetum sylvaticum

Woodland horsetail - moist open woods and wet meadows; FACW. Stems 10 to 30 inches. Rhizome: creeping. Grow in sun to part shade in moist sandy clay loam; very few sources.

Gymnocarpium dryopteris

Common oak fern - cool, coniferous and mixed woods and at base of shale talus slopes often in pockets of humus; UPL. Fronds 9 to 12 inches; rhizome: wide or long creeping. Grow in part shade to shade in moist rocky humus; very few sources.

Lycopodium annotinum

Bristly clubmoss - swampy or cool shaded often moist coniferous forests, mountain forests, and exposed grassy or rocky sites; FAC. Stems 2 to 10 inches; rhizome: long creeping. Grow in part sun to shade in mesic to moist rich acidic humus; very few sources.

Lycopodium clavatum

Common clubmoss - bogs, open woods and rocky barrens; FAC. Stems 2 to 10 inches; rhizome: long creeping. Grow in part sun to part shade in mesic rich acidic humus; very few sources.

Lycopodium obscurum

Flat branched ground pine - rich hardwood forests and successional shrubby areas; FACU. Stems 8 to 10 inches; rhizome: long-creeping. Grow in part shade to shade in mesic to moist rich acidic humus; very few sources.

Lygodium palmatum

Climbing fern or Hartford fern - moist thickets, barrens, swamp edges, open woods, acidic, poorly drained and peaty soil; FACW. Twining, climbing to 15 feet; rhizome: short creeping. Grow in full shade in acidic, peaty sandy loam, pH 4-7. Can be difficult to grow; very few sources.

Matteuccia struthiopteris

Ostrich fern - rich humus on rocky stream banks, moist alluvial flats, floodplains, mucky swamps and rich woods; FACW. Fronds 24 to 72 inches; rhizome: erect, but with wide-reaching stolons. Grow in part sun to shade in moist organic loams. pH 5 to 7.5. Dramatic vase-like habit; forms extensive colonies via multiple stolons; commonly available.

Onoclea sensibilis

Sensitive fern - open swamps, thickets, marshes, or low woods, in muddy soil in sunny wet meadows or shaded stream bank locations, often forming thick stands; FACW. Fronds 12 to 36 inches; rhizome: short creeping. Grow in part sun to shade in moist silty humusy loams, pH 4.5 to 7.5 but prefers acidic soil; commonly available, including better garden centers.

Osmunda cinnamomea

Cinnamon fern - swamps, stream banks, roadsides, Moist areas, acidic soils, frequently in vernal seeps, ponds and swamps; FACW. Fronds 30 to 60 inches; rhizome: erect with occasional offshoots. Grow in part sun to part shade in moist acidic organic humusy to silty soils, pH 5.5 to 7; commonly available.

Osmunda claytoniana

Interrupted fern - oozy mud swamps, bogs, and stream banks; also, rich, mesic woods and open woods and shaded roadsides; FAC. Fronds 24 to 48 inches; rhizome: erect with occasional offshoots. Grow in part sun to part shade in rich mesic to moist silty loam, pH 4-6; commonly available.

Osmunda regalis

Royal fern - swamps, bogs, bluffs, stream banks in moist acidic soils; OBL. Fronds 24 to 60 inches; rhizome: erect with occasional offshoots. Grow in part sun to part shade in moist to wet silty organic loam, pH 4-6; commonly available.

Pellaea atropurpurea

Purple cliffbrake - dry soils adjacent to dolomite glades and crevices of limestone and dolomite outcrops, bluffs, boulders and sink holes. Fronds 8 to 20 inches; rhizome: short creeping. Grow in part sun to part shade in dry to mesic sandy loam, pH 5.5 to 7.5 but prefers 6.5 to 7.5; very few sources.

Phegopteris connectilis

Long or narrow beech fern - cool shade, woods in moist loose humus, strongly to moderately acid soil, or on rocks in shaded rock crevices. Fronds 8 to 18 inches; rhizome: medium creeping. Grow in part shade to shade in mesic to moist rocky sandy humusy loam, pH 4 to 6; very few sources.

Phegopteris hexagonoptera

Broad beech fern - moist woods, usually in full shade, often in moderately acid soils; FAC. Fronds 12 to 24 inches, rhizome: long creeping. Grow in part shade to shade in moist acidic garden loam; very few sources.

Polypodium virginianum

Common polypody - rocks, boulders, cliffs, ledges, rocky woods; on a variety of substrates. Fronds 4 to 14 inches; rhizome: sort to medium creeping. Grow in part shade to shade in moist rich loam, pH 4 to 6; very few sources.

Polystichum acrostichoides

Christmas fern - forest floors and shady, rocky slopes in organically rich, dry to medium wet, well-drained soil; FACU-. Fronds 12 to 24 inches; rhizome: multiple crown. Grow in part shade to shade in dry to moist sandy rich loam, pH 4 to 7; commonly available, including most garden centers.

Polystichum braunii

Braun's holly fern - moist places in boreal forests; interior moist forests; cool rocky shaded ravines. Fronds 8 to 36 inches; rhizome: clump-forming. Grow in part shade to shade on cool sites in peaty, humusy moist loam; very few sources.

Pteridium aquilinum

Northern bracken fern - sunny to partly shaded dry areas with infertile soil in barrens, pastures, and open woodlands in moderately to strong acid soil, abundant, forming large colonies; FACU. Fronds 18 to 50 inches; rhizome: very long creeping. Grow in sun to part shade in dry to mesic sterile sandy loam, pH 4 to 5. Unpalatable to deer; aggressive spreader and forms large colonies; very few sources.

Selaginella apoda

Meadow spikemoss - swamps, meadows, marshes, pastures, damp lawns, open woods, and stream banks, in basic to acidic soil; FACW. Mat forming, low creeping multi-branched rhizome. Grow in part sun to part shade in moist to wet rich loam; very few sources.

Thelypteris noveboracensis

New York fern - terrestrial in moist woods, especially near swamps, streams, and in vernal seeps of ravines, often in slightly disturbed secondary forests, frequently forming large colonies; prefers dry oak, beech, maple and birch woods; FAC. Fronds 12 to 24 inches; rhizome: long creeping. Grow in high shade in mesic to moist humus rich sandy loam, pH 4 to 6. Aggressive spreader and can become invasive, forming huge woodland colonies. Reported to be ignored by deer, hence the carpeting; very few sources. AKA Parathelypteris noveboracensis; several sources.

Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens

Marsh fern - swamps, bogs, and marshes in soft rich muddy soil, also along riverbanks and roadside ditches, and in wet woods; FACW. Fronds 18 to 30 inches; rhizome: long creeping. Grow in part sun to part shade in moist to wet rich silty loam, pH 4 to 7 but prefers 4.5 to 6.5; several sources.

Woodsia ilvensis

Rusty woodsia - sunny cliffs and rocky slopes, usually in contact with rock; found on variety of substrates. Fronds 3-8 inches; rhizome: erect to ascending. Grow in part sun to part shade in moist to wet acidic garden soil, pH 5 to 6; very few sources.

Woodsia obtusa

Blunt lobed woodsia - cliffs and rocky slopes (rarely terrestrial); found on a variety of substrates including both granite and limestone. Fronds 5 to 15 inches; rhizome: short creeping or ascending. Grow in part sun to part shade in dry to mesic sandy humusy loam, pH 5 to 7.5; very few sources.

Woodwardia areolata

Netted chain fern - acidic bogs, seeps, and wet woods; FACW. Fronds 12 to 24 inches, rhizome: long-creeping. Grow in part sun to part shade in moist to wet rich loam; very few sources.

Woodwardia virginica

Virginia chain fern - acidic swamps, marshes, bogs, and roadside ditches over noncalcareous substrates; OBL. Fronds 18 to 24 inches; rhizome: long creeping. Grow in high shade to dappled shade in acidic moist to wet garden soil; very few sources.