Virginia Chain Fern
Woodwardia virginica

Family: Blechnaceae

What it is like

Woodwardia virginica is a deciduous Fern growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. The flowers are pollinated by Wind. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist or wet soil.

Height (m): 0.4

Where it is found

Grows in anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), bogs, marshes, swamps, and wetland margins (New England Wild Flower Society 2011-2015). Wet soils of open wet swampy woods, acid bogs, and along streams and roadside ditches, avoiding calcareous substrates.An important constituent of the field layer of flatwoods, Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) swamp forest and bay (Magnolia virginiana) forests.

Endemic to eastern North America from Florida to Nova Scotia and west to Michigan and Illinois.

Conservation Status: Least Concern.

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 3

Groundcover. A good high density groundcover that will work in a wet and shady spot. Garden Uses: Shade gardens, native plant gardens, woodland gardens or naturalized areas. Also effective along streams and ponds. Provides shelter for frogs, toads, newts.

How it is grown

A deciduous, perennial, colony-forming, waxy green, deciduous fern. Prefers organically rich, medium to wet, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Does well in average garden soils and will take considerable sun as long as soils are kept consistently moist. Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8). Typically occurs in woodland swamps and bogs. Bloom Time: Non-flowering. Bloom Description: Non-flowering. Can be mistaken for Osmundastrum cinnamomeum (Cinnamon Fern). For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a runner spreading indefinitely by rhizomes or stolons. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length .

Propagating it: Propagate by spores or rhizome division.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Fern

Hardiness: 3-10

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade

Moisture: Moist, wet

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Virginia chain fern

Synonyms

Anchistea virginica (L.) C. Presl. Blechnum virginicum L.