Summer Ferns 2025

Dissected Grape Ferns

Randy and I have been spending a lot of time recently driving around Franklin County, stopping at old cemeteries to see if there might be Dissected Grape Ferns (Sceptridium dissectum) or Leathery Grape Ferns (Sceptridium multifidum) growing in them. We have been pleased to find many older cemeteries that had at least a few, and a few that had many grape ferns (a few dozen or more). We have been trying to decide which cemetery to visit with you folks for a Fern Walk, and have been revisiting them every week or two to see how how much the grape ferns have grown, and how many more have come up.

But we have been very disappointed since about Labor Day weekend to find that many cemeteries have been mowed again... We are lucky then if we find very small grape ferns that are low to the ground and starting to regrow. Unfortunately, the really wonderful robust ferns have been obliterated with the mowing. This photo is from one of the few cemeteries that has not been mowed again yet. I have contacted the Cemetery Commission about not mowing until the end of October, and sent them photos showing what I am asking to save. They have not decided yet. This particular cemetery has Ladies Tresses growing in the same area as the grape ferns!

Because the conditions are so bright It is hard to get a good photo of these beautiful ferns in all their glory, with the sporangia on the fertile fronds shining golden in the sun. I had to shade these to get a decent photo. The environment is very open, sunny and dry. They are pretty easy to find if they have fertile fronds, but some do not and then it takes more careful searching. I am not sure we have found any yet that are definitely Leathery grape ferns. We have been told they can be found here. I have been looking forward to seeing the grape ferns we are seeing fully grown, to see how they compare with the larger Leathery Grape Ferns we know from VT.

Most of the grape ferns we have been seeing have sterile fronds that are bronze in color (or starting to turn, like the ones in the photo), or are very dissected, Either of which confirms that they are Dissected Grape Ferns. We saw a few big ones earlier, but they have since been mowed. The sterile fronds in this photo have leaves that are bronzing, and the tallest plant is about 5 inches tall.

So we will be setting a date soon for a Fern Walk focused on Grape Ferns, if we can find a site that is not mowed before then! In the meantime, check out the older (mowed less often) cemeteries in your area, and let us know if you find any grape ferns! We usually have good luck finding them in areas with wild thyme or a dried brown moss.

Posted: to PV Fern News on Sun, Sep 7, 2025
Updated: Sun, Sep 7, 2025