How much sun does Hairy lip fern need?

Hairy lip fern grows best in part sun conditions.

Where is Hairy lip fern native?

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

Is Hairy lip fern HOA-friendly?

Hairy lip fern is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Hairy lip fern

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Myriopteris lanosa

Last reviewed: October 2026

Toxicity unknown

Hairy lip fern (Myriopteris 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

part sun

Water

low

Size

4"–12" H × 6"–18" 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 460 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 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, tufted rock fern with finely divided fronds covered in soft, rusty-tan hairs. Grows in crevices and on dry ledges and curls up during drought, then unfurls after rain.

In an HOA neighborhood

Hairy lip fern is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: rock gardens, wall crevices.

Needs sharp drainage and suits only rocky sites

Wildlife value

Provides low ground cover and shelter in rocky microhabitats. It does not flower, so offers no nectar.

Common questions

How much sun does Hairy lip fern need?: Hairy lip fern grows best in part sun conditions.
Where is Hairy lip fern native?: Hairy lip fern (Myriopteris lanosa) is native to AL, AR, CT, DE and 22 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Hairy lip fern HOA-friendly?: Hairy lip fern 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 Hairy lip fern? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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