Fiddleheads 2026

Dissected Grape Fern

It is the season of Dissected Grape Fern (Sceptridium dissectum) fiddleheads, which are popping up in more places. I thought I would include a photo of the nice young plants with their surrounding environment to aid in your search for them. Dissected Grape Ferns are found scattered in open woods, and in sandy pastures and fields, but an easier place to look for them is in old cemeteries that are not often mowed. They have a better chance of surviving if there is less people traffic and disturbance, especially less mowing. This photo was taken today in an old cemetery in Pelham, where we had a Dissected Grape Fern walk last September. This cemetery does get mowed ocassionally, so the ferns you see here may get mowed and have to start their growth again, maybe more than once. They commonly grow with wild thyme and dry ground mosses and grasses. It is worth stopping to check for Dissected Grape Ferns when you pass an old cemetery with an unmowed carpet of such plants. There were over two dozen here today, and we saw over two dozen in another (still active) cemetery in Warwick on Sunday. It may be hard to see, but there are 5 Dissected Grape Ferns in this photo. The taller stems are the fertile fronds, and the smaller sterile fronds are already leafed out.

This is a reminder too of our upcoming Fern Hike at Highland Park in Greenfield this Sunday August 9th from 1-3 pm. This is a hike of moderate difficulty with some steep spots and rocky areas. Be prepared with proper footwear. Rain cancels the hike. Directions on the poster attached to the Calendar listing.

Posted: to PV Fern News on Tue, Aug 4, 2026
Updated: Tue, Aug 4, 2026