Common lady fern

Common lady fern is found mainly in deciduous and mixed forests. It is less common in coniferous stands.

It grows in humus-rich soils that stay moist and cool, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. It is most often found in shaded or partly shaded sites, along stream edges or in low, damp hollows on the forest floor.

This species is circumboreal, meaning it occurs across the Northern Hemisphere. Native to North America, it is also found throughout the temperate forests of Europe and Asia. It grows across most of the United States (except in arid regions) and throughout Canada, though it is less common in the Prairies.

In Quebec, it occurs in all regions, reaching as far north as the 57th parallel.