Rattlesnake Fern
Botrypus virginianus
Also listed as Botrychium virginianum, Japanobotrychum virginianum
Also known as Rattlesnake Grapefern, Virginia Grapefern, Common Grapefern
Climate Match for your location
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A delicate woodland fern with distinctive two-part fronds—sterile leafy portions and fertile spore-bearing portions that resemble rattlesnake rattles. It thrives in shaded, moist woodland gardens and is prized by native plant enthusiasts.
Why grow it
Rattlesnake fern offers a distinctive visual structure among woodland ferns, with its dimorphic fronds (fertile and sterile) creating textural interest that most other native ferns lack. It's smaller and less aggressive than many common ferns, making it suitable for shaded understory positions where space is limited. For native plant gardeners, it provides seasonal visual variation and supports regional insect and invertebrate populations.
Watch out for
This fern prefers consistently moist (not waterlogged) soil and can decline if conditions dry out during growing season. It establishes slowly and may take several years to fill in, so patience is needed before it reaches mature size. Avoid moving established plants frequently, as they resent disturbance and may take time to recover.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ophioglossaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A delicate woodland fern with distinctive two-part fronds—sterile leafy portions and fertile spore-bearing portions that resemble rattlesnake rattles. It thrives in shaded, moist woodland gardens and is prized by native plant enthusiasts.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Rattlesnake Fern grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Rattlesnake fern offers a distinctive visual structure among woodland ferns, with its dimorphic fronds (fertile and sterile) creating textural interest that most other native ferns lack. It's smaller and less aggressive than many common ferns, making it suitable for shaded understory positions where space is limited. For native plant gardeners, it provides seasonal visual variation and supports regional insect and invertebrate populations.
Watch out for
This fern prefers consistently moist (not waterlogged) soil and can decline if conditions dry out during growing season. It establishes slowly and may take several years to fill in, so patience is needed before it reaches mature size. Avoid moving established plants frequently, as they resent disturbance and may take time to recover.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Ophioglossaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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