At least 19 ferns are native to the land within Chico's city limits.1 They belong to nine plant families: the mosquito fern family, the hard fern family, the wood fern family, the horsetail family, the quillwort family, the water-clover family, the polypody family, the brake fern family, and the spikemoss family.
Brake Fern Family
Southern Maidenhair Fern
Southern maidenhair fern (also called Venus hair fern) prefers moist, shady areas. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
California Maidenhair Fern
California maidenhair fern prefers shady areas. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Lacefern
Lacefern prefers shady areas and tolerates serpentine. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Coffee Fern
Coffee cliffbrake prefers shady areas. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Bird's Foot Fern
Unlike most ferns, bird's foot cliffbrake (Pellaea mucronata) grows in full sun, primarily on rocks. Photo by queerbychoice. Bird's foot cliffbrake prefers sunny areas. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Goldenback Fern
Goldenback fern (Pentagramma triangularis) prefers full shade, as most ferns do. Photo by queerbychoice. Goldenback fern prefers shady areas. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Wood Fern Family
Brittle Bladderfern
Brittle bladderfern (also called fragile fern) prefers shady areas. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Coastal Wood Fern
Coastal wood fern (also called California shield fern) prefers shady areas. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Western Sword Fern
Western swordferns (Polystichum munitum) in a redwood forest. Photo by queerbychoice. Western swordfern prefers shady areas. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Quillwort Family
Howell's Quillwort
Howell's quillwort prefers wet areas. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Nuttall's Quillwort
Nuttall's quillwort prefers wet areas. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Orcutt's Quillwort
Orcutt's quillwort is an aquatic fern. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Water-Clover Family
Hairy Water-Clover
Hairy water-clover (also called hairy pepperwort) prefers very wet areas and often grows where partially underwater. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
American Pillwort
American pillwort prefers wet areas. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Hard Fern Family
Western Chain Fern
Western chain fern (Woodwardia fimbriata) turns yellow in the summer due to drought stress. Photo by queerbychoice. Western chain fern (also called giant chain fern) prefers moist, shady areas. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Polypody Family
Nested Polypody
Nested polypody (also called licorice fern) prefers shady areas. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Spikemoss Family
Hansen's Spikemoss
Hansen's spikemoss prefers shady areas. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Horsetail Family
Common Scouring-Rush
Common scouring-rush (Equisetum hyemale) in Beckwourth Riverfront Park Complex. Photo by queerbychoice. Common scouring-rush (also called giant scouring-rush) prefers moist areas. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Mosquito Fern Family
Pacific Water Fern
Pacific water fern prefers very wet areas and often grows where partially underwater. You can see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Footnotes
1. CalFlora.org
