Woodwardia fimbriata
Giant chain fern is the largest native fern of the West, sending up arching, leathery fronds commonly 4 to 6 feet long and occasionally taller from a slowly spreading clump. It wants partial to full shade and consistently moist soil, performing best along streambanks, seeps, pond margins, and shaded slopes with reliable moisture. The bold, coarse-textured evergreen to semi-evergreen foliage gives a lush, tropical effect and reads well in massed woodland plantings. Use it for understory texture, riparian restoration, and shaded areas where its size can anchor a composition.