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Lady-fern, Athyrium filix-femina

Brian Eversham

Lady-fern, Athyrium filix-femina

Brian Eversham

Lady fern

Enw gwyddonol: Athyrium filix-femina
One of the prettiest hardy ferns, the lady fern is delicate and lacy, with ladder-like foliage. It makes a good garden fern, providing attractive cover for wildlife.

Species information

Ystadegau

Height: up to 1.2m

Statws cadwraethol

Common.

Pryd i'w gweld

March to November

Ynghylch

The lady fern is a deciduous fern that prefers acidic conditions, but can be found on a wide variety of soil types. Look out for it in woodlands and along shady hedgerows. Like all ferns, it prospers in damp, shady conditions and reproduces using spores.

Sut i'w hadnabod

The lady fern is one of a number of similar species, including buckler-ferns and male-fern, which are difficult to tell apart. The fronds of lady ferns are usually held horizontally and droop at the ends; they are three-times pinnate and yellowy-green.

Dosbarthiad

Widespread.

Habitats

Roeddech chi yn gwybod?

The lady fern is from a different family than its namesake opposite - the male-fern. It was so-named for its elegance and delicacy.

Sut y gall bobl helpu

Our gardens are a vital resource for wildlife, providing corridors of green space between open countryside, allowing species to move about. In fact, the UK's gardens provide more space for nature than all the National Nature Reserves put together. So why not try planting native plants and trees to entice birds, mammals and invertebrates into your backyard?