ebony spleenwort

Plant Type

Fern

Typical Size

1 ft. tall
1 ft. wide

Tolerant of

Deer, Drought

Inolerant of

Poorly Drained Soil, Direct Afternoon Sun

Propagation

By division

Plant Propagation Notes

Ferns reproduce by spores rather than seeds, so division is the most common form of propagation.

Plant Planting Notes

Does well in shady, dry, rocky woodlands. Though not required, it prefers a soil pH of 4.5 to 5.

Plants/Diseases

Susceptible to crown rot in poorly drained soils or other conditions where the plant remains wet for too long.

Leaves

Compound fronds with alternate leaflets with serrate margins.

Toxicity

No known toxicity.

USDA Hardiness Zones

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Light Exposure

Part Sun/Shade, Full Shade

Soil Moisture

Moist

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Neutral (6.0-8.0), Basic (greater than 8.0)

Native in South Carolina?

Yes

Plant Native Habitat

Dry forests, woodlands, old fields, calcareous rock outcrops, and in masonry crevices.

Global Conservation Status (NatureServe)

Secure (G5)

Federal Conservation Status (USFWS)

Not Listed

Distribution Notes

Common in the coastal plain, piedmont, and mountains.

Subspecies

A. platyneuron var. incisum

A. platyneuron var. bacculum-rubrum