Rattlesnake Fern
Botrychium virginianum
- Native to:
- Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechia-Slovakia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Labrador, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Panamá, Peru, Poland, Prince Edward I., Romania, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay
TheAlphaWolf
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Pteridophyta | - Ferns
- Family:
- Ophioglossaceae
- Genus:
- Botrychium
- Species:
- Botrychium virginianum
- USDA Symbol:
- BOVI
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
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:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers shaded forest floors with organic matter
Propagation & Germination
- Notes:
- Fern reproduces via spores which require mycorrhizal association for gametophyte establishment. Propagation from spores is extremely difficult and slow in cultivation.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.
Source: Claude AI