Native Habitat:
Moist forests, shaded slopes, and riparian areas and cool, shaded environments.
 
Bloom Time:
Spores produced May – July (ferns do not flower)
 
Growth Habit & Mature Size:
Perennial evergreen fern, 2–6 feet tall, forming dense clumps with arching, sword-shaped fronds. Fronds are dark green, leathery, and pinnate, providing year-round structure.
 
Light & Soil Requirements:
Partial to full shade; thrives in moist, humus-rich soils. Prefers consistent moisture and well-drained conditions.
 
Willamette Valley Native Companion Plants:
Tolmiea menziesii, Polypodium glycyrrhiza, Athyrium filix-femina, Adiantum pedatum, Maianthemum dilatatum.
 
Urban Garden Function:
Provides lush evergreen foliage, layered texture, and visual structure in shaded urban gardens, woodland-inspired landscapes, and naturalized plantings. Works well as groundcover, under trees, or in rain gardens.
 
Wildlife Supported:
Offers shelter and microhabitats for insects, invertebrates, and small forest-dwelling wildlife. Contributes to soil moisture retention and forest floor biodiversity.
 
Historical Use:
Used by Indigenous peoples for medicinal and ceremonial purposes; valued ornamentally for shaded gardens, forest restoration, and woodland-style landscapes.