The amazing glade fern, Diplaziopsis pycnocarpa has long been one of our favorite native ferns, but it’s a bit of a loner. This fern, whose native range is from Maine to Louisiana, also has a bit of an identity crisis, formerly being known as Homolasorus pycnocarpus, Diplazium pycnocarpon, Athyrium pycnocarpon, and before that, several other names we shouldn’t mention in mixed company. It now resides, estranged from all other ferns, in a monotypic genus, in a monotypic family, which is the equivalent of lifelong solitary confinement.
Not only is it nomenclaturally isolated, but glade fern is also a native that’s been heavily exploited by unscrupulous nurseries, who, instead of selling nursery propagated plants, sell plants pillaged from the wild. Also, what is often sold as this 2′ tall x 4′ wide, clumping glade fern, is often, the fast-running, Ostrich fern (Matteucia struthopteris). As a note of warning, when you see ferns offered for sale for just a few dollars each, they are almost certainly plucked from the wild. It takes almost a full year to grow these from spores to saleable size, so no nursery would be able to remain in business, selling them at these highly discounted prices, and in quantities of 100s or 1000s. If you don’t care about preserving wild spaces, and their plants, there are sadly, plenty of dealers willing to oblige.
Below is a patch of true glade fern growing at JLBG, and still looking great in July. Winter hardiness is Zone 4a-9b. Explore our specialty collection of hardy outdoor ferns.
