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 50 states on zone range alone, and native to 28 of them. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering. Select any state, including one it will not grow in, for what is resistant there.
Choose a state from the listeasier on a phone
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- New York
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Virginia
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Georgia
- Texas
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Florida
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Iowa
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
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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.