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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Cystopteris fragilis is a deciduous Fern growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 2. The seeds ripen from July to August.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Ground Cover; North Wall. In. East Wall. In.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

Root. An emergency food, it is only used when all else fails[172].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anthelmintic

A decoction of the roots has been used as an anthelmintic enema[240]. A cold compound infusion of the plant has been used both internally and externally as a treatment for injury[257].

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Plants can be grown as a ground cover when planted out about 15cm apart each way[208].

Special Uses

Ground cover

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a shady position in a moist but well-drained soil, succeeding in most soil types[200]. Plants can tolerate up to 4 hours direct sun per day[200]. Prefers a pH between 6.5 and 7, but tolerates a range from 5.5 to 7.5[200]. Plants do especially well when grown in a shaded position on old mortared walls[219]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233]. Plants die back early in dry seasons[200]. A very ornamental plant[1].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Spores - best sown as soon as ripe on the surface of a humus-rich sterilized soil. Keep the compost moist, preferably by putting a plastic bag over the pot. Germinates in 1 - 3 months at 20°c[164].Pot on small clumps of plantlets as soon as they are large enough to handle and keep humid until they are well established. Do not plant outside until the ferns are at least 2 years old. Division in spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Japan NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Yukon), Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, Nunavut), St. Pierre and Miquelon, Greenland, United States (Alaska, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania), United States (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Virginia, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah), Mexico (Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Chiapas, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Chile PACIFIC: United States (Hawaii) EUROPE: Russian Federation (Astrakhan, Saratov, Volgogradskaja oblast), Greece, Italy, France

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Cystopteris bulbifera	Berry Bladder Fern, Bulblet bladderfern	Fern	0.2	4-8		LMH	FS	M	1	0	3
Cystopteris montana	Mountain Bladder Fern	Fern	0.3	4-8		LMH	FS	M	1	0

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Cystopteris fragilis - (L.)Bernh.