How much sun does Lobed Spleenwort need?

Lobed Spleenwort grows best in part shade conditions.

Where is Lobed Spleenwort native?

Lobed Spleenwort (Asplenium pinnatifidum) is native to AL, AR, CT, GA and 17 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Is Lobed Spleenwort HOA-friendly?

Lobed Spleenwort is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Lobed Spleenwort

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Asplenium pinnatifidum

Last reviewed: August 2026

Toxicity unknown

Lobed Spleenwort (Asplenium pinnatifidum) 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

part shade

Water

low

Size

4"–12" H × 4"–8" W

Bloom

N/A

Native to

AL, AR, CT, GA and 17 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 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Picture natives in your own yard

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

Try it with your yard

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Ozark Highlands Piedmont Central Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Erie Drift Plain Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Blue Ridge Ridge and Valley Eastern Temperate Forests Central Appalachians Western Allegheny Plateau Interior Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills

Lobed spleenwort is a small, delicate evergreen fern that forms neat clumps of deeply lobed fronds. This fern thrives in rocky areas and shaded spots, making it perfect for dry shade where other plants struggle. Its compact size and tidy growth habit work well in small spaces and rock gardens.

In an HOA neighborhood

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

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

Wildlife value

As a fern, this plant does not attract pollinators but provides shelter and habitat for small wildlife. The evergreen fronds offer year-round cover for insects and small creatures in shaded garden areas.

Common questions

How much sun does Lobed Spleenwort need?: Lobed Spleenwort grows best in part shade conditions.
Where is Lobed Spleenwort native?: Lobed Spleenwort (Asplenium pinnatifidum) is native to AL, AR, CT, GA and 17 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Lobed Spleenwort HOA-friendly?: Lobed Spleenwort is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

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

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