Southern Shield Fern

Common Names

Southern Shield Fern, Knuth's Maiden Fern, Southern Wood Fern

Summary

Thelypteris normalis is a North American native fern that grows to about 2–3 feet tall and wide, with light green upright fronds that spread by rhizomes to form a dense colony. It has an open fountain-shaped habit, naturalizes nicely with understory natives, and thrives in both wet and dry shade; it is deciduous and hardy in USDA zones 6–10.

It prefers moist, humus-rich, slightly acidic soils and should be watered deeply and regularly during the first growing season to establish a broad root system; once established, regular moisture is preferred but drier soils are tolerable. Fertilize frequently during the growing season and cut back old fronds in spring as new growth begins. It tolerates a wide range of light from sun to full shade, is deer and rabbit resistant, and provides erosion control; suitable for border plantings or mass plantings in shaded landscapes. It can be propagated by rhizome division, and spacing is about 4 feet for borders or 3 feet for mass plantings.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2-3 feet

Spread

24-36 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6a-10b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade to partial sun (3–6 hours of direct sunlight).

Soil Type

Moist, humus-rich, slightly acidic, well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

slightly acidic to alkaline

Bloom Time

No bloom season

Foliage Color

Light Green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Division