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Green Spleenwort

Asplenium viride

Last reviewed: June 2026

Green Spleenwort (Asplenium viride)
Photo: (c) Jacek Pietruszewski, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jacek Pietruszewski

Light

part shade

Water

medium

Size

2"–12" H × 2"–8" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

CA, CO, ID, ME and 11 more states

Green spleenwort is a delicate, small evergreen fern that forms neat clumps of bright green fronds. This compact native fern stays low to the ground and maintains its attractive appearance year-round in shaded areas.

In an HOA neighborhood

Green Spleenwort is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, mid zone.

Wildlife value

Ferns do not produce flowers or attract pollinators, but they provide shelter and habitat for small insects and spiders. The evergreen fronds offer winter cover for beneficial garden creatures.

Common questions

How much sun does Green Spleenwort need?
Green Spleenwort grows best in part shade conditions.
When does Green Spleenwort bloom?
Green Spleenwort blooms in June, July, August, and September.
Where is Green Spleenwort native?
Green Spleenwort (Asplenium viride) is native to CA, CO, ID, ME and 11 more states, per the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists.
Is Green Spleenwort HOA-friendly?
Green Spleenwort is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

Ready to grow Green Spleenwort? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz