How much sun does Hairy lip fern need?

Hairy lip fern grows best in full sun conditions.

Where is Hairy lip fern native?

Hairy lip fern (Cheilanthes lanosa) is native to AL, AR, CT, DE and 22 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Hairy lip fern

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Cheilanthes lanosa

Last reviewed: November 2026

Hairy lip fern (Cheilanthes lanosa) is a perennial fern native to AL, AR, CT, DE and 22 more states.

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

Toxicity unknown

Hairy lip fern (Cheilanthes lanosa) 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

full sun

Water

low

Size

4"–12" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

N/A

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 22 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 461 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Hairy lip fern.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Central Great Plains Cross Timbers South Central Plains Eastern Temperate Forests Ozark Highlands Central Irregular Plains Piedmont Northeastern Coastal Zone Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Blue Ridge Ridge and Valley Central Appalachians Western Allegheny Plateau Interior Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills

A small, drought-tolerant fern with wiry, hairy stems and finely divided fronds that curl up when dry and re-expand after rain, typically growing in rock crevices.

Growing Hairy lip fern

Grow Hairy lip fern in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 4 to 12 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Provides cover for small invertebrates in rocky habitats, with minimal direct wildlife value beyond habitat structure.

Common questions

How much sun does Hairy lip fern need?: Hairy lip fern grows best in full sun conditions.
Where is Hairy lip fern native?: Hairy lip fern (Cheilanthes lanosa) is native to AL, AR, CT, DE and 22 more states, 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 Hairy lip 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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