Is New York Fern deer resistant?
Thelypteris noveboracensis
Plant typeFernHardinessZones 3–8LightFull shade to part shadeMature height12–24 in
MaintenanceModerate
Native range28 US states
About New York Fern
Fronds taper at both ends, which is the field mark that separates it from lookalikes. Spreads into large colonies and is another fern that has thrived as deer removed its competition.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 4.5 to 6
- Drainage
- Consistently moist
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 18 to 24 in apart
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maintenance
- Moderate
Similar to New York Fern
Other ferns with the same deer rating.
- Christmas FernPolystichum acrostichoidesZones 3–9Rarely damaged
- Cinnamon FernOsmunda cinnamomeaZones 4–9Rarely damaged
- Hayscented FernDennstaedtia punctilobulaZones 3–8Rarely damaged
- Holly FernCyrtomium falcatumZones 7–10Rarely damaged
- Japanese Painted FernAthyrium niponicumZones 4–9Rarely damaged
- Ostrich FernMatteuccia struthiopterisZones 3–8Rarely damaged
Where New York Fern grows
Hardy across most of these 50 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvanianative
- New Jerseynative
- New Yorknative
- Connecticutnative
- Massachusettsnative
- Virginianative
- Marylandnative
- Michigannative
- Wisconsin
- Ohionative
- Indiananative
- Illinoisnative
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- North Carolinanative
- Tennesseenative
- Georgianative
- Texas
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshirenative
- Vermontnative
- Mainenative
- Rhode Islandnative
- Delawarenative
- West Virginianative
- Kentuckynative
- South Carolinanative
- Florida
- Alabamanative
- Mississippinative
- Louisiananative
- Arkansasnative
- Oklahomanative
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Iowa
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbianative
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 28 US states in total.
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Every list New York Fern belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about New York Fern
- Is New York Fern deer resistant?
- New York Fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) is rated Rarely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Deer almost always leave this alone.
- What hardiness zones does New York Fern grow in?
- New York Fern is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does New York Fern grow in shade?
- Yes. New York Fern tolerates full shade to part shade, which makes it one of the options for a shaded bed where deer also browse.
- How big does New York Fern get?
- Mature height is roughly 12–24 in. Growth rate is fast.