Deer Fern is a perennial grown for its blooms, which open in summer and return year after year. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 8 and shrugs off deer.
Zones
5-8
pH Range
5.5-7
Sun
Part Sun
Days to Maturity
---
Score Deer Fern on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether deer fern actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score deer fern against your land's real conditions.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your full report in seconds
What Deer Fern is
Deer Fern grows as a perennial and reaches around two feet at maturity. It blooms in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Deer Fern
Deer Fern grows in USDA zones 5 through 8. Deer Fern does best in part sun — at least 4 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7. It needs a growing season of at least 160 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
5-8
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Part Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
Data pending
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
-8°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
2 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
160+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant deer fern in part sun with at least 4 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Deer Fern prefers pH 5.5 to 7 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Harvest at its peak
Cut deer fern blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — deer fern isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Deer Fern isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where Deer Fern thrives
Deer Fern is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 8. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 5–8·Where Deer Fern growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Deer Fern can grow in these states:
See if Deer Fern will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether deer fern actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Deer Fern in my zone?
Deer Fern grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 8 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Deer Fern?
Most growers plant deer fern after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 160-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Deer Fern need?
Deer Fern does well in partial sun — around 4 hours of direct sun, and it takes some afternoon shade in stride. That flexibility makes it a good match for a bed the house or a nearby tree shades for part of the day. A Growable Ground report maps how the sun actually falls on your land, hour by hour, so you can set it where the light lines up.
What soil does Deer Fern need?
Deer Fern prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7 (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Deer Fern attract pollinators?
Deer Fern isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Deer Fern safe for pets?
Deer Fern is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.