Ebony Spleenwort
Asplenium platyneuron
Also listed as Acrostichum platyneuron, Athyrium platyneuron
Climate Match for your location
See how well Ebony Spleenwort grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
A delicate evergreen fern with narrow, dark fronds that add fine texture to shaded garden spots. Ebony spleenwort is hardy and low-maintenance, thriving in rocky or sandy soils where many plants struggle.
Why grow it
Ebony spleenwort offers fine textural contrast in shaded woodland gardens where it tolerates drier conditions and poor soils better than most ferns. Unlike many shade ferns that prefer consistently moist substrates, this species establishes readily in rocky, sandy, or well-draining sites, making it useful for difficult microclimates. Its evergreen fronds provide year-round interest, and its modest mature size (typically 6-12 inches tall) suits tight spaces without aggressive spreading.
Watch out for
This fern spreads slowly by spores in favorable conditions, so monitor expansion if planted in confined spaces. Young plants benefit from consistent moisture during their first growing season, even though established specimens tolerate drier conditions. The fronds are brittle and break easily during handling or heavy foot traffic, so site placement should consider walkway proximity.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Aspleniaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A delicate evergreen fern with narrow, dark fronds that add fine texture to shaded garden spots. Ebony spleenwort is hardy and low-maintenance, thriving in rocky or sandy soils where many plants struggle.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Ebony Spleenwort grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Ebony spleenwort offers fine textural contrast in shaded woodland gardens where it tolerates drier conditions and poor soils better than most ferns. Unlike many shade ferns that prefer consistently moist substrates, this species establishes readily in rocky, sandy, or well-draining sites, making it useful for difficult microclimates. Its evergreen fronds provide year-round interest, and its modest mature size (typically 6-12 inches tall) suits tight spaces without aggressive spreading.
Watch out for
This fern spreads slowly by spores in favorable conditions, so monitor expansion if planted in confined spaces. Young plants benefit from consistent moisture during their first growing season, even though established specimens tolerate drier conditions. The fronds are brittle and break easily during handling or heavy foot traffic, so site placement should consider walkway proximity.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Aspleniaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar herbs you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.