Giant Chain Fern
Woodwardia fimbriata
Also listed as Woodwardia chamissoi, Diplazium biserratum
Climate Match for your location
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A large, graceful California native fern with long, arching fronds that can reach 6 feet tall, creating a dramatic tropical effect in shaded garden areas. It thrives in consistently moist conditions and makes an excellent specimen plant or backdrop for shade gardens.
Why grow it
Giant Chain Fern outperforms many shade ferns in size and architectural presence, making it useful where a bold focal point is needed rather than fine texture. Unlike smaller native ferns, its 6-foot fronds create immediate visual impact in moist woodland settings. It tolerates the challenging dry shade conditions common to many ferns only poorly, so it works best where consistent moisture can be maintained, such as near water features or in naturally boggy sites.
Watch out for
The plant's large fronds can become tangled or damaged in windy locations, even in sheltered gardens, so site placement matters more than with compact species. Established plants can spread vigorously via rhizomes in ideal conditions, potentially crowding nearby plants over several years. In drier climates or during drought, regular watering becomes necessary to prevent frond dieback and loss of the plant's ornamental form.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Blechnaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
California and Oregon
Native to: Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
pH Range
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A large, graceful California native fern with long, arching fronds that can reach 6 feet tall, creating a dramatic tropical effect in shaded garden areas. It thrives in consistently moist conditions and makes an excellent specimen plant or backdrop for shade gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Giant Chain Fern grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Giant Chain Fern outperforms many shade ferns in size and architectural presence, making it useful where a bold focal point is needed rather than fine texture. Unlike smaller native ferns, its 6-foot fronds create immediate visual impact in moist woodland settings. It tolerates the challenging dry shade conditions common to many ferns only poorly, so it works best where consistent moisture can be maintained, such as near water features or in naturally boggy sites.
Watch out for
The plant's large fronds can become tangled or damaged in windy locations, even in sheltered gardens, so site placement matters more than with compact species. Established plants can spread vigorously via rhizomes in ideal conditions, potentially crowding nearby plants over several years. In drier climates or during drought, regular watering becomes necessary to prevent frond dieback and loss of the plant's ornamental form.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Blechnaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
California and Oregon
Native to: Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
pH Range
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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