Downy Maiden Fern

Thelypteris dentata

Native to:
Afghanistan, Andaman Is., Angola, Ascension, Australia, Azores, Bangladesh, Benin, Bismarck Archipelago, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Caroline Is., Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cook Is., DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guam, Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., Hainan, India, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Kermadec Is., Korea, Kriti, Laccadive Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Madeira, Malawi, Malaya, Mali, Maluku, Marianas, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, New Guinea, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norfolk Is., Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Réunion, Rodrigues, Rwanda, Santa Cruz Is., Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sicilia, Sierra Leone, Society Is., Socotra, Solomon Is., South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sulawesi, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tokelau-Manihiki, Tonga, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Uganda, United States, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Yemen, Zambia

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Taxonomy

Division:
Pteridophyta | - Ferns
Family:
Aspleniaceae
Genus:
Thelypteris
Species:
Thelypteris dentata
USDA Symbol:
THDE4

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
100 cm
Light Requirements:
Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Ground Cover:
Yes

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★☆☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Deer Resistant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers shaded or semi-shaded areas

Propagation & Germination

Notes:
Ferns reproduce via spores; spore germination requires moist, shaded conditions and produces a prothallus before sporophyte development.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI