Hay Scented Fern

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Partial Sun

(3 - 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2 Feet

Mature Spread

2-3 Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 8

The Hay Scented Fern or Dennstaedtia punctilobula may look delicate, but this hardy fern is a landscape workhorse. Large feathery fronds have a central midrib with alternating pinna. The foliage is a yellow-green hue, giving it a distinct look. This fern is aggressive, so plant it in an area where it can overtake and avoid planting with less assertive plants.

Feature this stunner as a groundcover or use in a woodland-inspired garden. This fern is deciduous and earns its name because it smells like freshly mowed hay if crushed. This plant grows from rhizomes, which spread out under the ground, so it will quickly fill in an area all on its own. This lush beauty is native to the eastern U.S. and grows as a perennial in USDA zones 3 through 8. The fronds repel deer, so feature this plant along a property line or near a garden to discourage deer from dropping by.

Hay Scented Fern Care

This shade-loving fern needs full to partial shade, so choose a spot that receives no more than 4 hours of sunlight. Plant in moist, well-drained soil that is acidic and water when the soil starts to dry out. 

Feed the plant using a fish emulsion fertilizer if the fronds look washed out or pale. Remove dead or damaged growth as needed. All of the greenery will die back after the first frost. Thin the plants out as needed by removing dense growth.

Hay Scented Fern Spacing

The Hay Scented Fern will grow 24 to 30 inches tall and 30 to 36 inches wide. Space plants at least 18 inches apart, although if you give the plants more room, these ferns will fill that area in no time.