Lance Fern

Botanical name: Austroblechnum lanceolatum
Synonyms: Blechnum chambersii, Blechnum lanceolatum, Blechnum doodioides
Common name(s): Lance Fern, Lance Water Fern, Nini, Rereti

About:
A lush forest fern indigenous to New Zealand, Australia, and parts of the Pacific. This species is recognised by its lance-shaped dark green fronds, pinkish young growth, and strongly dimorphic fertile and sterile fronds.

Natural habitat:
Occurs naturally in shaded forest gullies, stream banks, river margins, waterfall spray zones, damp cliff faces, limestone cave entrances, rock overhangs, and riparian forest.

Growing environment:
Partial shade to full shade, Moist soils, Humid conditions & Lime tolerant.
Thrives in deep moist soils and shaded sites with reliable humidity.

Indigenous distribution:
Indigenous to New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, and Fiji.
In New Zealand found throughout the North, South, Stewart, and Chatham Islands.

Height:
Approximately 0.12–0.65 m tall

Width:
Forms spreading colonies approximately 0.4–1 m across

Flowering:
Not applicable — spore producing fern

Fruiting:
Not applicable — reproduces via spores

Uses:

• Shaded fern gardens
• Streamside planting
• Riparian restoration
• Damp bank stabilisation
• Native understory planting
• Limestone garden planting

Appearance:

Growth habit:
A tufted to spreading fern forming colonies from erect to suberect rhizomes.

Leaves:
Sterile fronds are narrow, lance-shaped, dark green, sometimes maroon-tinged, with many pairs of small serrated pinnae.

Fertile fronds:
Fertile fronds are narrower and more upright, with slender pinnae carrying spore-producing sori.

New growth:
Emerging fronds are often green with a pinkish tinge, maturing to dark green or maroon-tinged foliage.

Ecology:
An important fern of moist forest and riparian habitats, helping stabilise shaded banks and contributing to dense fern cover along waterways.

Associated wildlife:
Host plant for the New Zealand endemic moth Batrachedra litterata.

How to grow:
Best grown in shaded conditions with deep, moist, humus-rich soil. Responds well to regular lime applications and performs especially well in damp limestone areas.

Propagation:
Easily propagated from fresh spores or by division of established rhizomes.

Garden value:
A reliable and attractive native fern for shaded wet areas, valued for its lush lance-shaped foliage, pinkish new growth, and ability to form elegant colonies in damp forest-style gardens.