Since the deer fern is native and ubiquitous in this area, it’s a trooper and it flourishes while I ignore it. It tends to look a little trashed by the time late winter rolls around, but is easily refreshed by shearing the old fronds. The deer fern is unique in that it has two types of fronds, fertile erect and horizontal sterile ones. Looks great tucked into the mid-size boulders at the North Side Garden eastern steps.