Phegopteris connectilis

Long Beech Fern Athyriaceae

A graceful, deciduous fern of cool woodland and mountain habitats, Phegopteris connectilis is commonly known as Beech Fern, Northern Beech Fern or Long Beech Fern. It forms a spreading colony from a slender, creeping rhizome, producing delicate triangular fronds in fresh green. The lowest pair of pinnae characteristically angle downwards, giving the frond a distinctive arrow-like outline. The fronds arch attractively as they mature before dying back in autumn. 

A remarkably widespread species, its natural range extends across the subarctic and temperate Northern Hemisphere. In Europe it occurs from Britain and Ireland eastwards through Scandinavia, Central and Eastern Europe into Russia and the Caucasus, while in Asia it extends through Siberia and the Far East to Japan, Korea, China, Tibet, Nepal, the western Himalaya and Taiwan. In North America it is widespread across Canada and the northern and northeastern United States, extending south into the Appalachians and Pacific Northwest. Kew records it from more than 70 geographic regions. 

In the wild it favours moist, acidic woodland soils, shaded banks and mossy rocks, from sea level to around 2,200 m. A lovely fern for naturalistic planting beneath deciduous trees, particularly where its ability to spread slowly through a creeping rhizome can be given room. 

Nomenclature: The currently accepted name is Phegopteris connectilis (Michx.) Watt, first published in 1867. Its basionym is Polypodium connectile Michx., published in Flora Boreali-Americana in 1803. It has had an unusually complicated nomenclatural history and has also been known as Polypodium phegopteris, Dryopteris phegopteris, Thelypteris phegopteris, Gymnocarpium phegopteris and Lastrea phegopteris. 

• Hardiness: H7, below -20°C
• Height: 20–50 cm
• Spread: 50–90 cm
• Fronds: Deciduous, fresh green
• Soil: Moist, humus-rich, preferably acid
• Aspect: Shade to dappled shade
• Range: Subarctic and temperate Northern Hemisphere
• Altitude: Sea level–c. 2200 m