Polystichum acrostichoides
An evergreen, clump-forming fern native to eastern North America that grows in moist, shady woodlands, reaches about 1–2 feet tall, and features dark green, leathery fronds that provide year-round greenery and winter interest.
Common Names
Christmas Fern, Christmas Dagger Fern, Dagger Fern, Evergreen Christmas Fern
Summary
Christmas fern is an evergreen fern native to eastern North America, forming fountain-like clumps from a creeping rhizome. It features dimorphic fronds, with evergreen sterile fronds and taller fertile fronds bearing spores; fronds are dark green and leathery, with fiddleheads emerging silvery in spring. Plants typically reach about 1–2 feet in height and 1–2 feet in width. For cultivation, it prefers organically rich, well-drained soils in part to full shade, tolerating dry to medium moisture; angle the rhizome when planting to reduce crown rot in poorly drained soils. Although rhizomatous, it does not spread aggressively; clumps gradually increase. It is deer resistant and generally pest- and disease-free, suitable for woodland and shaded borders, erosion-control plantings, groundcovers under trees, and mass plantings. Propagation is by spores or division in spring, and it is hardy in USDA zones 3–9.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
12-24 inches
Spread
12-24 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3-9
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally Partial Shade to Full Shade.
Soil Type
Organically rich, well-drained soil (loamy or sandy; preferably acidic)
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
5.5-7 (sub-acidic to neutral soil)
Bloom Color
Insignificant
Bloom Time
Does not bloom; no flowering season.
Foliage Color
Dark green
Fall Foliage Color
Green
Leaf Lifecycle
Other
Growth Rate
Medium
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Propagation Methods
Division, Spores
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts Ruffed Grouse
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (Michx.) Schott
- Publication
- Gen. Fil. [Schott] ad t.9. 1834 ; & NPfl. 190
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Polypodiophyta
- Class
- Polypodiopsida
- Subclass
- Polypodiidae
- Order
- Polypodiales
- Family
- Dryopteridaceae
- Subfamily
- Dryopteridoideae
- Genus
- Polystichum
Inferior Taxa
Polystichum acrostichoides var. lonchitoides
Synonyms
Aetopteron acrostichoides Dryopteris acrostichoides Aspidium acrostichoides Aspidium schweinitzii Nephrodium acrostichoides Polystichum acrostichoides f. incisum Polystichum acrostichoides var. schweinitzii Polystichum acrostichoides f. acrostichoides Polystichum acrostichoides var. incisum Polystichum acrostichoides f. crispum Polystichum acrostichoides f. furcatum Polystichum acrostichoides f. gymnosorum Polystichum acrostichoides f. lanceolatum Polystichum acrostichoides f. multifida Polystichum acrostichoides f. orbiculatum Polystichum acrostichoides f. recurvatum Polystichum acrostichoides f. spathiforme Polystichum acrostichoides f. ventroperaferens Nephrodium acrostichoides var. incisum Polystichum acrostichoides var. crispum Aspidium acrostichoides var. incisum Nephrodium acrostichoides var. crispum Aspidium auriculatum Thelypteris acrostichoides Polystichum acrostichoides f. demittens Polystichum acrostichoides f. ligulatum