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Northern Moonwort

Botrychium pinnatum

Last reviewed: August 2026

Northern Moonwort (Botrychium pinnatum)
Photo: (c) Timothy McNitt, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Timothy McNitt

Toxicity unknown

Northern Moonwort (Botrychium pinnatum) 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

medium

Size

4"–12" H × 2"–6" W

Bloom

N/A

Native to

AZ, CA, CO, ID and 6 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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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Northwestern Forested MountainsSouthern RockiesNorth American Deserts

This small native fern produces delicate, deeply divided fronds that emerge in spring and die back in fall. It grows slowly in small clumps, preferring shaded areas with consistent moisture.

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In an HOA neighborhood

Northern Moonwort takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Completely disappears underground in winter leaving bare spots
  • Very small size makes it look sparse in formal landscapes
  • Can appear weedy or unkempt to untrained eyes

Wildlife value

As a fern, it does not produce flowers or attract pollinators but provides shelter for small insects and adds to native plant diversity.

Common questions

How much sun does Northern Moonwort need?
Northern Moonwort grows best in part shade conditions.
Where is Northern Moonwort native?
Northern Moonwort (Botrychium pinnatum) is native to AZ, CA, CO, ID and 6 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Northern Moonwort HOA-friendly?
Northern Moonwort takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

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

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