Commonly called “hay-scented fern,” Dennstaedtia punctilobula has erect, beautifully arched, apple-green fronds. It spreads somewhat aggressively by rhizomes to form large, attractive colonies. Like other ferns, it does not flower, but the undersides of the leaves do become stippled with dark brown spores in late summer or fall.

Dennstaedtia punctilobulahayscented fern is native to the entire northeastern US and parts of the southeast along the Appalachian mountains, where it grows on rocky slopes and in meadows. It is deciduous, meaning the foliage dies back for the winter in most climates. The fronds develop a golden coloration and distinctive hay scent in fall.

Use hay-scented ferns in shaded borders and under trees to create a rippling sea of green. It can handle some sun with sufficient moisture, though it should be protected from afternoon sun in the South. It is rabbit and deer-resistant.