Hay-scented Fern | Plant Profile

Hay-scented Fern (Dunnstaedtia punctilobula) are fragrant, deciduous ferns that are native to open woodlands of the American northeast. The fronds are narrow, somewhat erect, and arching. The light green fronds turn yellow in the fall. The highly fragrant fronds give the aroma of freshly cut grass or hay, as indicated by the name.

Hay-scented Fern prefers fertile, moist, acidic soils in part shade to full shade.

Hay-scented Fern are extremely common on the Pennsylvania forest floors. They are best left to naturalize in woodland areas to tidy the forest floor.