(aka: Cystopteris fragilis var. protrusa) Protruding bladder fern…really? There’s a name that obviously wasn’t run by the marketing team, which is a shame since it’s a truly great fern. So, if you can get past the common name, and you’re looking for a compact groundcover fern, look no farther than the North American native southern fragile or bladder fern, Cystopteris protrusa. Native to all states east of the Mississippi River, the widespread deciduous Cystopteris protrusa can be found in moist woodlands, where it beautifully carpets the ground. In the garden, Cystopteris protrusa grows 1′ tall and makes a 5′ wide deciduous patch of narrow, lacy, upright fronds in 8 years.
