Deer fern
Blechnum spicant
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
shade
Water
high
Size
12"–24" H × 12"–18" W
Bloom
Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
CA, ID, OR, WA
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 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaEvergreen fern with stiff, upright, glossy fronds forming a neat clump. Found in cool, moist coniferous forests and along stream banks.
Wildlife value
Provides year-round shelter for small woodland wildlife and is browsed occasionally by deer, giving the plant its common name.
Common questions
- How much sun does Deer fern need?
- Deer fern grows best in shade conditions.
- When does Deer fern bloom?
- Deer fern blooms in July, August, and September.
- Where is Deer fern native?
- Deer fern (Blechnum spicant) is native to CA, ID, OR, WA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Deer fern? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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