Northwest Native Plants  Lady Fern 

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Lady Fern - athyrium filix-femina

Appearance

  • Leaves To 16-80 tall narrowed at both ends.
  • It has no flowers.
  • The plant is 6 feet tall with leaves fanned out of a tuft.
 Lady Fern

Habitat

  • They grow in wet (moist) places.
  • It often grows with Devils club , and skunk cabbage in wet places.
 Lady Fern

Growth Habit

  • This plant is perennial.
  • In winter the leaves are soggy.
  • They are bright yellow in mid summer. 
 Lady Fern

Natural History

  • Northwest Indians used the lady ferns medicinally.
  • They baked lady ferns for dinner