Top native leptosporangiate ferns

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

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355 native plants

Sun and shade

Light

Full sun 14 Part shade 52 Dappled shade 30 Full shade 44

Soil and water

Moisture

Dry 11 Well drained 29 Moist 45 Wet 19

Water use

Low 1 Medium 15 High 11

Soil

Rocky 12 Sand 11 Loam 23 Clay 12 Organic 21

Soil pH

Acid 30 Neutral 12 Alkaline 12

Toughness

Drought tolerant

Deer resistant

Resists

Heavy shade 31 Rabbits 14 Wet soil 12 Dry soil 3 Squirrels 3 Wind 2 Fire 1 Heat 1 Salt 1 Urban conditions 1

Form

Habit

Arching 20 Clumping 20 Creeping 15 Erect 15 Spreading 7 Ascending 3 Cascading 2 Climbing 2 Dense 2 Mounding 2 Vase 2 Rounded 1 Weeping 1

Plant type

Fern 311 Perennial 271 Wildflower 267 Herbaceous perennial 32 Ground cover 6 Annual 4 Vine 4 Houseplant 3 Tree 3 Epiphyte 2 Shrub 1 Water plant 1