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Christmas Fern
Crosiers (young fiddleheads) in spring are silvery and scaled. The Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides, occurs in both dry and moist wooded slopes, moist banks and ravines. It typically grows in a fountain-like clump to 2' tall and features leathery, lance-shaped, evergreen (green at Christmas time as the common name suggests) fronds. Stocking shape of the pinnae also suggests Christmas. These plants serve as hosts for butterfly larvae. Sori appear on the undersides of the pinnae only at the ends (last 1/3) of the fronds. The evergreen fronds provide good winter interest for the landscape. This fern does not spread but the clumps increase in size over time. Christmas ferns are asymmetrical with a fine texture and has a moderately dense crown. ... find out more
Ghost Fern The slowly spreading clump of fronds are a soft grayish-green with an overlay of silvery shades. The characteristic that is most noteable is it's upright silvery foliage. The fronds become more grayish-green as summers warmer temperatures arrive. The silvery foliage is acquired from its Japanese painted fern parent and upright habit from its lady fern parent. The silver is contrasted by the darker maroon midribs. It typically grows to 30” tall. pictum and Athyrium filix-feminais', is a deciduous hybrid fern. The Ghost Fern is easily grown in organically rich, medium wet, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. The Ghost Fern, 'Athyrium niponicum var. |
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