How much sun does Marsh fern need?

Marsh fern grows best in part shade conditions.

When does Marsh fern bloom?

Marsh fern blooms in July, August, and September.

Where is Marsh fern native?

Marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris) is native to AL, AR, CT, DC and 34 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Marsh fern

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Thelypteris palustris

Last reviewed: October 2026

Marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris) is a perennial fern native to AL, AR, CT, DC and 34 more states. It blooms in July, August, and September.

Toxicity unknown

Marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris) 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

high

Size

12"–30" H × 18"–36" W

Bloom

Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DC and 34 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 458 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

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 Marsh fern.

Try it with your yard

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Central Great Plains Cross Timbers East Central Texas Plains South Central Plains Ozark Highlands Central Irregular Plains Northwestern Great Plains Great Plains Piedmont Western Corn Belt Plains Northern Forests Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Driftless Area Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains Central Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Huron/Erie Lake Plains Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Northern Allegheny Plateau 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 Mississippi Alluvial Plain Mississippi Valley Loess Plains Southern Coastal Plain Southern Florida Coastal Plain Acadian Plains and Hills Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

A colony-forming fern with lacy, once-pinnate fronds that spread by creeping rhizomes to form dense stands in wet soil. Left unchecked it can spread widely in favorable conditions.

Growing Marsh fern

Grow Marsh fern in part shade and high water. Mature plants reach 12 to 30 inches tall and spread 18 to 36 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Provides dense ground cover and shelter for amphibians and other small wildlife along wetland margins.

Common questions

How much sun does Marsh fern need?: Marsh fern grows best in part shade conditions.
When does Marsh fern bloom?: Marsh fern blooms in July, August, and September.
Where is Marsh fern native?: Marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris) is native to AL, AR, CT, DC and 34 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 Marsh fern? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

Add this plant to your garden

iPhone app Android app