bulblet bladder fern
Cystopteris bulbifera
USDA zones3 to 9
SunHandles partial sun or full shade
WaterHandles moderate to moist soil
Size12 to 24 inches tall12 to 24 inches wide
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Habit
- Herb , fern
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn
- Bloom color
- Not applicable
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Loam
- Soil pH
- Neutral
Garden uses
Notes
Bulblet bladder fern (Cystopteris bulbifera) is a fern for shade gardens, woodland gardens, and rock gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 3, or down to -40°F (-40°C). This plant likes part sun to full shade and average to moist, loamy soil. Deer tend to pass it by. Small bulblets form on the undersides of the fronds and can detach to form new plants. Fiddleheads appear in early spring on bright red to maroon stems.
Pairs well with Snake Eyes hosta, Yellow trout-lily, and Canada wild rye.
Native range
AL, AR, AZ, CT, and 34 more places. See all 38
AL, AR, AZ, CT, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV; NB, NL, NS, and ON.