Blechnum spicant

Description

Blechnum spicant – hard fern

Botanical name: Blechnum spicant
Common names: Hard fern, deer fern
Family: Blechnaceae
Plant type: Evergreen fern
Habit: Clump-forming, with two frond types
Pot size: 3 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 30–50cm tall × 30–45cm spread
Foliage: Leathery, ladder-like dark green fronds; a spreading rosette of sterile fronds with taller, narrower upright fertile fronds; evergreen
Flowers: None — ferns reproduce by spores, not flowers
Scent: Not scented
Aspect / light: Partial to full shade
Soil: Moist, humus-rich; acid to neutral; dislikes lime
Hardiness: RHS H6 (hardy, to about −20°C); USDA zones 5–8
Exposure: Sheltered
Native range: Native to Europe including the UK
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic to people and pets

Blechnum spicant, the hard fern, is a native evergreen with leathery, ladder-like dark green fronds, forming a neat rosette with taller upright fertile fronds at the centre. It thrives in moist, acid, shaded soil and woodland.

GardenAdvice notes

A handsome native evergreen fern, the hard fern is distinctive for its two kinds of frond — a spreading rosette of leathery, ladder-like sterile fronds, and taller, narrower fertile fronds standing upright in the centre. It is one of the best ferns for a cool, moist, acid, shaded spot and gives good year-round structure.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring or autumn in moist, humus-rich, acid to neutral soil in partial to full shade — it dislikes lime and drying out. Ideal in woodland borders, shady beds and beside ponds. Work in leaf mould, and space about 40cm apart.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance. Keep the soil reliably moist, and mulch with leaf mould in autumn. Remove any tatty or frost-damaged fronds in early spring before the new growth unfurls. No feeding is usually needed beyond an annual mulch.

Propagation

• Division: Lift and divide congested clumps in spring.
• Spores: Can be raised from spores sown on moist, sterile compost, though this is slow and specialised.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free. Young fronds can be grazed by slugs and snails, and fronds brown if the soil dries out or lime is present. Moist, acid, shaded conditions keep it healthy.

Uses in the garden

Ideal for woodland and shady borders, north-facing beds, pond margins and among other acid-loving shade plants, giving evergreen structure all year.

Wildlife value

The evergreen fronds provide year-round cover and shelter for small invertebrates.

Toxicity & safety

Ferns are generally regarded as non-toxic to people and pets, though as with all ornamental plants they are not intended for eating.

GardenAdvice tip

The hard fern must have lime-free, moist soil to thrive — on chalk or in dry ground it browns and struggles, so give it humus-rich, acid soil in shade that never bakes dry. In the right spot it’s a beautiful, easy native evergreen with an unusual two-tier structure.

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