Photo by loarie 
Photo by UBCgarden
B
Shade Grade: B
Evergreen, super hardy native fern. I give it a B+ because the horizontal fronds have a naturally "collapsed" look.
Deer Fern
Blechnum spicant
Companion Plants
Nursery Tag
Needs shade, organic soil. Hardy to -20F
Gardener's Log
05/2011: Planted in rockery on the east edge of the North Side Garden.
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.