Cutleaf Grape Fern (Botrychium dissectum): Bronze Winter Fern with Unique Fertile Spike

Overview

Cutleaf grape fern (Botrychium dissectum), also called bronze fern or grape fern, is a small, deciduous fern native to eastern North America. It produces a **single, sterile frond** (6–12 inches) that is finely cut (dissected) into lacy segments, and a separate, **erect fertile spike** bearing grape-like clusters of sporangia. The sterile frond often turns **bronze-purple in winter**, persisting until spring—a rare winter color trait among ferns.

Unique Life Cycle

• One Frond Per Year: Sterile and fertile portions arise from a common stalk.
• Winter Bronze: Frond colors beautifully in cold months.
• Mycorrhizal Dependence: Requires fungal partners; difficult to transplant.

Culture

Partial shade; moist, acidic, well-drained woodland soil. **Do not dig from wild**—rarely survives transplant. Best appreciated in situ. Hardy USDA zones 4–8.

Taxonomic Profile

A fleeting, bronze-jeweled gem of the winter woods—grape fern is a find for the sharp-eyed naturalist.