Native populations of this fern are restricted to glacial plunge basins in the Syracuse area. Records indicate that wild plantings have been made in various areas of the state. The status of these plantings is not currently known.

This fern occurs disjunctly, restricted to localized populations in New York, Michigan, Ontario, Tennessee, and Alabama. At present, the species is extant in seven counties in the province of Ontario, two counties in New York, two counties in Alabama, two in Michigan and one county in Tennessee (USFWS 1989a). A population introduced from a rescue activity in New York in the 1930's still thrives in New Jersey and likley in other areas of New York.