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Ferns

Paesia scaberula

lace fern

A deciduous fern, with creeping rhizomes and lacy, pale yellow-green fronds to 1m long, with a zigzag structure to the midrib which is coated with fine reddish hairs. Fronds are slightly leathery and hairy, and faintly aromatic when crushed. Fertile fronds bear 'sori' (structures which produce or contain spores) all along the underside margins, protected by inrolled leaf edges

Other common names

scented fern

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or West–facing or North–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Dennstaedtiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Thrives in moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil in light or dappled shade; may not be hardy in colder areas so provide a winter mulch or move container-grown plants inside. See how to grow ferns for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by division or from spores

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Ground cover
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Remove dead or damaged fronds as needed

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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