Top native shieldfern family members

51 species, native to the US, ranked by caterpillars, then bees and other hosts, food, flowers and shelter.

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51 native plants

Sun and shade

Light

Part shade 14 Dappled shade 10 Full shade 12

Soil and water

Moisture

Dry 2 Well drained 9 Moist 10 Wet 4

Water use

Medium 3 High 4

Soil

Rocky 1 Sand 3 Loam 10 Clay 7 Organic 9

Soil pH

Acid 11 Neutral 2 Alkaline 1

Toughness

Drought tolerant

Deer resistant

Resists

Heavy shade 8 Rabbits 6 Wet soil 5 Dry soil 2 Squirrels 2 Fire 1

Form

Habit

Arching 7 Erect 7 Clumping 6 Creeping 3 Dense 1 Mounding 1 Vase 1

Plant type

Fern 46 Perennial 36 Wildflower 35 Herbaceous perennial 9 Ground cover 2