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
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