Pleopeltis polypodioides

Common Names

Resurrection Fern, Gray Polypody

Summary

Resurrection Fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides) is a small evergreen epiphytic fern in the Polypodiaceae that often grows on the bark of live oaks and on rocks, it is non-parasitic and anchored by a creeping rhizome with brown scales, fronds are leathery and 4–12 inches long, and it reproduces by spores on the undersides of fronds, with a desiccation-tolerant habit that browns and curls during drought and regreens within hours when moisture returns, it favors part to full shade and medium moisture, thriving in shaded, humid habitats and on substrates such as tree bark, fallen logs, stumps, ledges, or rocks, propagation occurs by spores or rhizome division, it is used ornamentally in shade gardens and terrariums and can be cultivated in greenhouses, with care focusing on good air circulation around roots, it tolerates drought and is hardy to USDA zones 6–9

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-12 inches

Spread

6-12 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade, ranges from sun to full shade.

Soil Type

No soil; epiphytic; grows on tree bark.

Soil Drainage

No soil; soil drainage not applicable; epiphytic on bark/rocks

Soil pH

4.5 or below

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Non-flowering

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Spores, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds