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Native Plant Propagation Guidelines:
ferns & allies

Cystopteris fragilis (fragile fern)

Category: 
ferns and allies

fragile fern (photo by Moralea Milne)

Delicate, small fern to 30 cm tall. Rhizomes are light brown, short and densely scaly. Stipes are straw-coloured, hairless and shorter than the blades. Blades are lance-shaped, taper at both ends and are two to three times pinnate with 8-18 pairs of leaflets; lower leaflets reduced in size and ultimate segments irregularly toothed. The small, round sori are partially covered with a delicate, hood-like, somewhat toothed or lobed indusium which soon withers and curls back (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994). Photo by Moralea Milne.

Scientific Name: 

Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh. (C. dickieana R. Sim)

Family: 
Dryopteridaceae
English Name: 
fragile fern
Other Names: 
brittle fern

Geographical Range and Habitat Requirements

Ecological Setting: 

Cool, moist to dry rocky forests and elevations. Often found on calcium-rich rock cliffs, crevices, ledges and talus slopes at all elevations (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994). Very widely distributed across North America.

Soil Texture: 

Coarse-textured free-draining.

Nutrients: 

Nitrogen medium, calcium rich.

Soil Reaction and Salinity: 

Slightly acidic to moderately calcarious (Bernh, 2002).

Moisture Regime: 

Dry to fresh.

Shade Tolerance: 

Shade tolerant. Prefers shady sites but will tolerate a limited amount of filtered sunlight (Bernh 2002)

Successional Status: 
n/a
BEC Zone and GOE Community Status: 
n/a

Uses

Site Rehabilitation: 
n/a
Wildlife: 
n/a
Landscaping: 

Attractive ornamental for the dry, shady rock garden.

First Nations: 
n/a
Other Uses: 
n/a

Seed Propagation

Flowering Time: 
n/a
Fruit Ripening Time: 
n/a
Seed Collection Time: 

When spores are well developed (tan or brown in colour) in the sori, tie a clear plastic bag over fronds and shake until spores are dislodged. Spread spores on the surface of a 1:1 peat/vermiculite planting mixture. Set container in the dark for a few days before moving to a well-lit location. Keep the planting medium damp by covering with glass or clear plastic. Spores will germinate in one to three months if kept at 20o C. Gametophytes will appear after one to three months. Keep the planting medium damp by covering with glass or clear plastic. As gametophytes grow, continually thin 0.5 cm plugs into larger individual containers with moist, well-draining soil-less medium leaving 2.5 cm between each plug. Cover to retain humidity and place in bright area but not in full sunlight. Mist gametophytes to encourage fertilization. Sporphytes will appear in one to six months and once fronds reach 2.5 cm in height they can be transferred to individual containers.

Crop Intervals: 
n/a
Number of Seeds per Kilogram: 
n/a
Seed Viability: 
n/a
Fruit and Seed Collection and Extraction: 
n/a
Seed Storage: 
n/a
Fruit/Seed Dormancy and Treatment: 
n/a

Vegetative Propagation

Can be propagated by division in the spring and by rhizome cuttings (Bernh, 2002).

Outplanting Characteristics and Requirements

Plants should be retained in the nursery until they are at least two years old. Plant in well-drained, moist, organic soil in a shady location. Provide some moisture during the first year of establishment. Mulch the area around the plant with leaf mulch (Lukavsky, 1996).

Seed and Cutting Propagation Techniques

n/a

Additional Information and Photos

For more information and pictures, visit the E-Flora BC website at www.eflora.bc.ca.

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