Species Least Moonwort

yellow-lime fruits with lime stems and green leaves

Least Moonwort

Botrychium simplex var. simplex

Least Moonwort (Botrychium simplex var. simplex) is a small fern of the Ophioglossaceae family. It is a perennial wildflower that grows in shady woodlands in parts of Europe and Asia. This plant has delicate, shallowly divided, dark green leaves that are often divided into three small leaflets. It produces small insignificant green flowers in clusters in summer. The veins of the leaves are bright moon-shaped silver spots, which is where it gets its common name. The leaves resemble small crescents, so the plant is also sometimes called ‘Crescent Fern’. This species is one of the least damaging of its group, as it does not form large colonies, but is instead found in small clusters.

Watering:

Average

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

Partial Shade, Shade

Soil:

Sand

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

Low

Care Level:

Medium

watering

False Daisy Leaf Moonwort should be watered as needed, in most cases once every 2 weeks. The soil should be kept moderately moist, but not sopping wet. Make sure to check if the soil is dry when watering, as overwatering can be detrimental to the plant. Avoid waterlogging or soggy conditions. Give the False Daisy Leaf Moonwort a light spray with water around its foliage every few days to prevent drying out. Avoid direct sunlight, and instead provide it with bright indirect sunlight.

sunlight

False Daisy Leaf Moonwort (Botrychium pseudopinnatum) is a shade-loving perennial plant that grows best with partial sun and partial shade. It prefers partial, indirect sunlight and should receive about 2 to 4 hours of indirect sunlight a day. This species does not tolerate extreme hot temperatures or full sun and should be protected from direct light during peak hours (from about 10am to 2pm). It should receive morning sun during the cool season and light shade during the warm season. It is important to ensure that the plant is able to rest by providing it with colder winter temperatures and protection from strong wind and frost.

pruning

False Daisy Leaf Moonwort should not require any pruning to thrive. Due to its low growing nature, no pruning is recommended even to maintain the form of the plant. Pruning is not recommended as it is a species of special concern and is a protected species in some states.

Propagation