Deer fern
Blechnum spicant
Last reviewed: August 2026
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
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 452 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.
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 Deer fern? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz