Bradley's Spleenwort
Asplenium bradleyi
Last reviewed: August 2026
Toxicity unknown
Bradley's Spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
4"–12" H × 3"–8" W
Bloom
N/A
Native to
AL, AR, GA, IL and 15 more states
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Bradley's Spleenwort.
Browse plants for this ecoregion
Bradley's spleenwort is a small, evergreen fern that forms neat clumps in shaded areas. It grows slowly and maintains a compact, tidy appearance year-round with delicate, divided fronds.
In an HOA neighborhood
Bradley's Spleenwort is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, mid zone.
Wildlife value
As a fern, it does not produce flowers or attract pollinators, but provides shelter for small insects and adds structural diversity to native plant communities.
Common questions
- How much sun does Bradley's Spleenwort need?
- Bradley's Spleenwort grows best in part shade conditions.
- Where is Bradley's Spleenwort native?
- Bradley's Spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi) is native to AL, AR, GA, IL and 15 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- Is Bradley's Spleenwort HOA-friendly?
- Bradley's Spleenwort is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Bradley's Spleenwort? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.