Bulblet Fern (Cystopteris bulbifera)
Bulblet Fern is in the fragile fern genus—Cystopteris. It is an unusual fern in that it can reproduce by spores, but it also forms small round bulblets that grow at the bases of some of the leaflets. When these fall to the ground, if it is moist, they will grow into the sporophyte, or adult fern.
The fronds of Bulblet Fern are long and narrow and they are twice compound. It is usually divided into pinnae. Some pinnae are entire like in Christmas Fern and Ebony Spleenwort, while some are divided again, into pinnules. Bulblet Fern is in this category and has toothed pinnules. Believe it or not, in some ferns, pinnules are further divided which is called tripinnate.
Bulblet Fern grows in seepy places, on stream banks and out of calcareous rock outcroppings (see photos).
You will want to make sure you keep the ground moist with decaying leaves around. If you have high clay content in your soil, this fern is unlikely to grow well.
Bulblet Fern (Cystopteris bulbifera)
Michigan Flora reference page for state distribution: Bulblet Fern
soil: medium, rich
sun: partial, shade
plant spacing: 10”
life cycle: perennial
family: Cystopteridaceae
Bulblet Fern is in the fragile fern genus—Cystopteris. It is an unusual fern in that it can reproduce by spores, but it also forms small round bulblets that grow at the bases of some of the leaflets. When these fall to the ground, if it is moist, they will grow into the sporophyte, or adult fern.
The fronds of Bulblet Fern are long and narrow and they are twice compound. It is usually divided into pinnae. Some pinnae are entire like in Christmas Fern and Ebony Spleenwort, while some are divided again, into pinnules. Bulblet Fern is in this category and has toothed pinnules. Believe it or not, in some ferns, pinnules are further divided which is called tripinnate.
Bulblet Fern grows in seepy places, on stream banks and out of calcareous rock outcroppings (see photos).
You will want to make sure you keep the ground moist with decaying leaves around. If you have high clay content in your soil, this fern is unlikely to grow well.
Bulblet Fern (Cystopteris bulbifera)
Michigan Flora reference page for state distribution: Bulblet Fern
soil: medium, rich
sun: partial, shade
plant spacing: 10”
life cycle: perennial
family: Cystopteridaceae
Bulblet Fern is in the fragile fern genus—Cystopteris. It is an unusual fern in that it can reproduce by spores, but it also forms small round bulblets that grow at the bases of some of the leaflets. When these fall to the ground, if it is moist, they will grow into the sporophyte, or adult fern.
The fronds of Bulblet Fern are long and narrow and they are twice compound. It is usually divided into pinnae. Some pinnae are entire like in Christmas Fern and Ebony Spleenwort, while some are divided again, into pinnules. Bulblet Fern is in this category and has toothed pinnules. Believe it or not, in some ferns, pinnules are further divided which is called tripinnate.
Bulblet Fern grows in seepy places, on stream banks and out of calcareous rock outcroppings (see photos).
You will want to make sure you keep the ground moist with decaying leaves around. If you have high clay content in your soil, this fern is unlikely to grow well.
Bulblet Fern (Cystopteris bulbifera)
Michigan Flora reference page for state distribution: Bulblet Fern
soil: medium, rich
sun: partial, shade
plant spacing: 10”
life cycle: perennial
family: Cystopteridaceae
