This soft, yellowish-green fern has fine-textured fronds that grow up to 2 feet tall. Its habit of forming dense colonies makes it a good companion for spring ephemerals, filling in the spaces after the flowers go dormant. It grows in sun or shade and, while it prefers slightly acidic, moist soils, it's commonly found on the drier edges of swamps in the wild.
 
A key to identifying the fern is by the shape of its blade (the leafy part of the frond), which tapers at both ends. As some might say, "New Yorkers burn the candle at both ends."
 
Plant Characteristics:
Typically grows 12-18" but sometimes reaches 24".
 
Grows in full sun to full shade.
 
Prefers average or moist, humusy or rocky soils but tolerates drier conditions. 
 
The leaves are deciduous.
 
Wildlife Value:
Several caterpillars reportedly feed on this fern: pink-shaded fern moth, closebanded yellowhorn moth, and American angle shades.
 
Medicinal, Edible, and Other Uses:
 
Resources:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=THNO
 
Adirondacks Forever Wild: https://wildadirondacks.org/adirondack-ferns-new-york-fern-thelypteris-noveboracensis.html
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