Ferns
Ferns Tutorial
Licorice Fern: (Polypodium glycyrrhiza)
— one of the few ferns on Vancouver Island that grows directly out of mossy logs, tree trunks, and even bigleaf maple bark. Licorice fern is an epiphyte — a plant that grows on other plants without harming them. It uses moss as a sponge, anchoring itself in the moisture held by the moss layer.
- It grows on trees and logs, not from the soil — this is the #1 giveaway.
- The fronds are narrow, simple, and evenly spaced, unlike the more toothed or complex fronds of sword or lady ferns.
- It prefers moss‑covered surfaces, exactly like the one in your image.
- It stays green through winter, often looking freshest in the cool, wet months.
- On Vancouver Island, licorice fern is everywhere once you learn to see it — especially on bigleaf maples, fallen logs, and shaded rock faces.
- It grows from a creeping rhizome hidden under the moss.
- The rhizome tastes faintly sweet — which is where the “licorice” name comes from.
- Indigenous peoples traditionally used the rhizome medicinally.
- It thrives in moist, shaded, old‑growth‑influenced forests.
Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum):
- Long, arching fronds that rise from a central crown
- Leaflets (pinnae) that are sharply pointed, like tiny spears
- A sturdy, upright posture — it looks confident, almost architectural
- Prefers soil at the base of big trees, especially in moist, shaded forests
Sword Fern is one of the most abundant and important ferns in old‑growth and second‑growth forests on Vancouver Island.
What makes Sword Fern special
It’s not just common — it’s foundational.
- It stabilizes the forest floor, preventing erosion
- Provides shelter for salamanders, insects, and small mammals
- Stays green all year, even in winter
- Thrives in deep shade and constant moisture
- Lives for decades — some clumps are over 100 years old
When you see Sword Fern thriving, it means the forest is healthy and the soil is rich.
Lady Fern (Athyrium filix‑femina)
Lady Fern has a few unmistakable traits:
- Soft, lacy fronds — much finer than the bold, architectural look of Sword Fern
- A gentle arching shape, almost feathery
- Leaflets (pinnae) that are divided again into smaller segments, giving it that delicate, airy texture
- Prefers moist soil along trails, creeks, and forest edges — exactly like the scene you captured
- A lighter, brighter green than the deep forest‑green of Sword Fern
It’s one of the most widespread ferns on Vancouver Island, and it thrives in:
- filtered sunlight
- moist soil
- rich, undisturbed understory
It dies back in winter and returns fresh each spring, which is why it often looks especially vibrant in the early growing season.
Sword Fern feels sturdy and ancient.
Lady Fern feels light, intricate, almost like forest lace.
Moss and Lichen
Step Moss (Hylocomium splendens)
Step Moss has a very distinctive growth pattern:
- It grows in layered “steps”, each year forming a new tier — like a miniature staircase.
- The fronds branch in a way that resembles tiny cedar or hemlock boughs, which is why it looks like a forest within a forest.
- It loves rotting logs, exactly like the one in your photo.
- It forms soft, feathery mats that glow green even on cloudy days.
It’s one of the most important mosses in Pacific Northwest ecosystems — a quiet architect of the forest floor.
This little moss:
- Holds moisture like a sponge, keeping the forest cool and damp.
- Creates habitat for insects, springtails, and tiny invertebrates.
- Helps logs decompose, returning nutrients to the soil.
- Builds soil over decades, one delicate layer at a time.
It’s also a sign of a healthy, undisturbed forest — it doesn’t thrive in dry or degraded areas.
Tree Beard Moss | Alectoria sarmentosa
— long, hairlike, bright green, very common in moist forests.
These hanging lichens thrive where the air is:
- Clean
- Moist
- Cool
- Rich with fog and ocean influence
They absorb everything they need directly from the air — no roots, no soil. So when you see trees covered like this, it’s a sign of healthy, unpolluted forest air.
These lichens:
- Glow when the light hits them after rain
- Sway like slow forest breath
- Catch fog and drip water back to the forest floor
- Create tiny ecosystems for insects and birds
- Mark old, undisturbed forest — they grow slowly and don’t thrive in disturbed areas
They’re like the forest’s hair — soft, ancient, and full of memory.
A little ecological magic
Ravens and hummingbirds use this moss to build nests. Deer nibble it in winter. It holds moisture like a sponge. And it’s one of the best indicators of clean air anywhere in the world.
Oregon Beaked Moss (Kindbergia oregana)
One of the most common mosses that grows on branches in coastal BC forests.
- A true moss
- Grows in dense, feathery tufts
- Clings to branches like tiny evergreen shrubs
- Bright, vibrant green
- Looks like miniature cedar boughs
It’s a sign you’re walking in a healthy, moist, undisturbed ecosystem.
Witch’s Hair Lichen (Alectoria sarmentosa)
Witch’s Hair is a bioindicator — it only thrives where the air is extremely clean.
It’s one of the most sensitive lichens on Earth, and it chooses its home carefully.
Mushrooms and Fungi
Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor), one of the most common and ecologically important bracket fungi on Vancouver Island. It absolutely loves old pilings, driftwood, logs, and anything damp near water. It’s a sign of a healthy decomposition cycle.
🌏 Turkey Tail is also famous in traditional medicine and modern research for its immune‑supporting compounds — though of course, that’s more about cultivated forms than wild ones.
But symbolically, it’s known as the “forest healer” because it transforms what is old into nourishment for new life.
Witch’s Butter (Tremella mesenterica) is a parasite of another fungus that lives in the wood. In other words, it’s part of a fungus‑on‑fungus relationship, which is very old‑growth forest energy.
Witch’s Butter is a sign of healthy decomposition and a forest that’s been left to its own rhythms.
Wildflowers
Western Skunk Cabbage also known as Swamp Lantern (Lysichiton americanus),
is native to the Pacific Northwest and is very common on Vancouver Island and the Nanaimo area. It’s affectionately called Swamp Lantern because the yellow spathes seem to glow in the dim light of wetlands. It’s one of the first plants to wake up in spring, offering early nectar and shelter for insects and small wildlife. https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Lysichiton+americanus&utm_source=copilot.com
Salal (Gaultheria shallon) is common along forest trails on Vancouver Island, especially in dappled light. Salal is one of the quiet anchors of our coastal forests — resilient, generous, and deeply woven into the ecology of the Pacific Northwest. Its flowers feed early pollinators, and its berries are loved by birds, bears, and anyone who enjoys a wild-foraged treat.
It’s also a plant with a long lineage of use: food, medicine, ceremony, and even floral arrangements because the leaves last so beautifully.
Pink Fawn Lily (Erythronium revolutum)
is native to the Pacific Northwest and is considered a bit of a treasure because:
- It blooms for only a short window each spring.
- It prefers undisturbed, old forest floors.
- Its colonies can be decades old, slowly expanding in quiet, mossy places.
- Pollinators adore it — especially early bees.
There’s something almost ceremonial about how it rises from the earth: mottled leaves first, then that single elegant bloom, like a bow.
