Ferns That Grow in Gatlinburg, TN

Speenwort Family

• The spleenwort family (Aspleniaceae) includes about 10 genera but those that grow in Gatlinburg are predominantly from the genus Asplenium. Ebony spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron), hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, bears narrow fronds, and wall-rue (Asplenium ruta-muraria) has lacy fronds with small scalloped leaflets and is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8. Both maidenhair spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes) and walking fern (Asplenium rhizophyllum) are hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9. Maidenhair spleenwort bears very thin fronds with oval leaflets, while the walking fern is a small plant with arrow-shaped undivided leaves.

Wood Fern Family

• Wood ferns (Dryopteridaceae) are also very suitable for Gatlinburg landscapes. Southern lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina) has wide, highly divided fronds with a lacy appearance, and is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8. The Dryopteris ferns all have lacy divided leaves, are all hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9 and include the species such as crested wood fern (Dryopteris cristata), Goldie's fern (Dryopteris goldiana), intermediate wood fern (Dryopteris intermedia) and marginal wood fern (Drypteris marginalis). Silvery glade fern (Deparis acrostichoides), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9, bears similar fronds but has linear spore formations (called sori).

Adder's Tongue Family

• The adder's tongue family (Ophioglossaceae) includes adder's tongue (Ophioglossum spp.), grape ferns and moonworts (both Botrychium spp.). Southeastern adder's tongue (Ophioglossum vulgattum), hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8, bears little resemblance to most ferns, having spathe-like, undivided leaves and fertile fronds. Grape ferns or moonworts (Botrychium spp.), hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8, bear lacy undergrowth and at least one fertile frond that bear grape-like clusters. Some species suitable for Gatlinburg include southern grape fern (Botrychium biternatum), cut-leaved grape fern (Botrychium dissectum), lance-leaved moonwort (Botrychium lanceolatum) and rattlesnake fern (Botrychium virginianum).

Marsh Fern Family

• The marsh fern family (Thelypteridaceae) includes the beech ferns (Phegopteris spp.) and certain wetland ferns. The broad beech fern (Phegopteris hexagonoptera), hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, bears lacy, divided leaves, while the New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), hardy in USDA zones 5 through 7, bears similar leaves with a lacier appearance. The marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris) bears slightly cupped leaflets and is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 10, while the bog fern (Thelypteris simulata) is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 6 and bears slightly divided leaflets, making them appear almost undivided at times.