Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Blechnum spicant (Hard fern)
1 hour care
per year
per year
0.5m
Max height
Max height
0.5m
Max spread
Max spread
5-10 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Blechnum spicant
Other names
Hard fern, Rusty back, Snake fern, Deer fern
Genus
Blechnum Blechnum
Species
B. spicant - B. spicant is a small evergreen fern with spreading, narrow, dark-green fronds bearing comb-like leaves.
Blechnum spicant is: Semi evergreen
Habit
Clump-forming, Spreading
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
General care
Pruning
Remove dead or damaged fronds.
Propagation methods
Division, Spores
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Blechnum spicant (Hard fern) will reach a height of 0.5m and a spread of 0.5m after 5-10 years.
Suggested uses
Cottage/Informal, Beds and borders, Low Maintenance, Underplanting, Wildflower, Foliage only
Cultivation
Easy to grow in most cool, moist, lightly shaded sites and will grow in full sun if given plenty of moisture. Tolerant of dry shade but water regularly in their first season and mulch well.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Blechnum spicant
Other names
Hard fern, Rusty back, Snake fern, Deer fern
Genus
Blechnum Blechnum
Species
B. spicant - B. spicant is a small evergreen fern with spreading, narrow, dark-green fronds bearing comb-like leaves.
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Clump-forming, Spreading
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
General care
Pruning
Remove dead or damaged fronds.
Propagation methods
Division, Spores
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Blechnum spicant (Hard fern) will reach a height of 0.5m and a spread of 0.5m after 5-10 years.
Suggested uses
Cottage/Informal, Beds and borders, Low Maintenance, Underplanting, Wildflower, Foliage only
Cultivation
Easy to grow in most cool, moist, lightly shaded sites and will grow in full sun if given plenty of moisture. Tolerant of dry shade but water regularly in their first season and mulch well.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
COMPANION PLANTS
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
By London based garden designer Maïtanne Hunt MSGD, MBALI. Maïtanne used every available surface to create this small city haven. read more
Designed by garden designer Helen Elks-Smith MSGD. Traditional with a contemporary twist, this garden located on the outskirts of London is designed for relaxed family living and informal… read more
The RHS Back to Nature Garden, designed by The Duchess of Cambridge and award-winning landscape architects Andree Davies and Adam White of Davies White Landscape Architects, is based in a woodland… read more
Three-time RHS gold medal winning designer, Matthew Childs, will be hoping for his fourth award with his Smart Meter Garden at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival. read more
By garden designer Lawrence Roberts. A garden that aims to create an immersive experience for the visitor, a garden that could be appreciated in more ways than from behind a rope as it… read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login