A Small Fern, Ebony Spleenwort

May 18, 2026

Ebony Spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron), a small fern that is native to not only eastern North American but also southern Africa. It has a distinctive coloring of its central stem, extremely dark almost black, which gives the plant its common name. I often see it up here in the woods.

A fern with two different types of fronds. Sterile fronds, which are just 2 to 6 inches long with a slight arch. They are often found growing along the ground, and are evergreen. The other type are fertile fronds which appear in spring, growing to a height of 1 to 2 feet. These fronds are deciduous, dying off in winter after their spores are dispersed.

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Published by

Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.

2 thoughts on “A Small Fern, Ebony Spleenwort”

  1. I thought of you when I saw one growing in a wall by the Episcopal Church in Williamsburg two weeks ago
    Leigh

    1. Oh Leigh! Thank you for thinking of me! And I must say, I’m so very happy that you got to Williamsburg. Our son spent his first 4 years of college there and totally loved it. And his Dad and I sure enjoyed visiting him there!! After a year to get his master’s degree at Brown, he moved on to Tucson, going to schoole there for 6 yrs. His dad and I had such great visiting destinations!
      So glad you read my posts!
      Bren

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