Is Sensitive Fern deer resistant?
Onoclea sensibilis
Plant typeFernHardinessZones 2–10LightFull shade to part shadeMature height12–24 in
MaintenanceModerate
Native range40 US states
About Sensitive Fern
Named for how fast the fronds blacken at the first frost. Spreads vigorously in wet ground and is one of the few ferns happy in full sun if the soil stays saturated.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 5 to 7
- Drainage
- Tolerates wet feet
- Water
- High
- Spacing
- 24 to 35 in apart
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maintenance
- Moderate
Similar to Sensitive 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
- New York FernThelypteris noveboracensisZones 3–8Rarely damaged
Where Sensitive Fern grows
Hardy across most of these 51 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
- Wisconsinnative
- Ohionative
- Indiananative
- Illinoisnative
- Minnesotanative
- Missourinative
- North Carolinanative
- Tennesseenative
- Georgianative
- Texasnative
- Coloradonative
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshirenative
- Vermontnative
- Mainenative
- Rhode Islandnative
- Delawarenative
- West Virginianative
- Kentuckynative
- South Carolinanative
- Floridanative
- Alabamanative
- Mississippinative
- Louisiananative
- Arkansasnative
- Oklahomanative
- Kansasnative
- Nebraskanative
- Iowanative
- North Dakotanative
- South Dakotanative
- Montana
- Wyomingnative
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbianative
- Hawaii
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 40 US states in total.
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Every list Sensitive Fern belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Sensitive Fern
- Is Sensitive Fern deer resistant?
- Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) is rated Rarely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Deer almost always leave this alone.
- What hardiness zones does Sensitive Fern grow in?
- Sensitive Fern is hardy in USDA zones 2 to 10. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Sensitive Fern grow in shade?
- Yes. Sensitive 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 Sensitive Fern get?
- Mature height is roughly 12–24 in. Growth rate is fast.