How much sun does Deer fern need?

Deer fern grows best in shade conditions.

Where is Deer fern native?

Deer fern (Blechnum spicant) is native to CA, ID, OR, WA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Deer fern

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Blechnum spicant

Last reviewed: November 2026

Deer fern (Blechnum spicant) is a perennial fern native to CA, ID, OR, WA.

Watering reminders and freeze alerts for Deer fern, free in the app.

Toxicity unknown

Deer fern (Blechnum spicant) 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

shade

Water

high

Size

12"–24" H × 12"–18" W

Bloom

N/A

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 461 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Puget Lowland Marine West Coast Forest Northwestern Forested Mountains Sierra Nevada Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains North American Deserts

Evergreen fern with stiff, upright, glossy fronds forming a neat clump. Found in cool, moist coniferous forests and along stream banks.

Growing Deer fern

Grow Deer fern in shade and high water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 12 to 18 inches wide.

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.
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.

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.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Deer fern? Add it to your garden in the Pollinator Patch App to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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