A graceful fern of shaded swamps and boggy woodlands, Netted Chain Fern is strikingly dimorphic, displaying two completely different types of fronds.

Its broad, leafy sterile fronds create a lush groundcover. When held up to the light, they reveal their namesake: a beautiful, intricate network of veins. In stark contrast, the fertile fronds rise stiffly above them in summer—tall, narrow, and almost skeletal. Their most distinct feature is the long, dark spore clusters arranged in neat, chain-like rows, giving the fern its other name. This dramatic, two-part appearance makes it a standout in any wetland.