Hay-scented fern is a non-flowering fern perennial. It gets its common name from its leaves, which smell like new mown hay when bruised. Though it prefers shade, it will tolerate full sun if kept constantly moist, and it will grow to a size of 2 feet high to 3 feet wide, quickly forming large colonies. In the fall it turns a delicate yellow. A native to the Midwest, it is best used as a ground cover or an understory.