Christmas Fern

 Christmas Fern, known also as Polystichum acrostichoides, is a perennial from primarily eastern North America with leaves that stay green even through the holiday season. Some of this plant’s popularity comes from its fountain-like fronds that spawn from its base. 

The fronds of this evergreen plant generally grow to 1 to 2 feet in length, while the plan itself usually grows 2 to 3 feet tall. The fronds stay glossy and green all year long, although they are longer when the plant is fertile. The fern is also one of the first ferns to emerge again in the spring. When the fronds emerge, they initially are upright. They later arch gently to the grown and become solid ground cover when fully mature. This also means their appearance will change slightly throughout the year, giving a refreshing change to the look of a large garden.

Where To Plant Christmas Ferns

The fern performs best in cool, moist soil with lots of shade, as this plant originated from a rocky, vegitation-lush habitat. According to the USDA, it grows best in hardiness zones 3 through 9. This hardy plant is also resistant to damage from pests such as small animals and deer, making it a great choice for those in northern states with deer problems. It provides great ground cover and accents. They can be used as a border for a larger garden, to fill space in a large yard, or even used as a potted houseplant.

 Fern Maintenance

Christmas Ferns can also be placed in a planter. Be sure to mist them at least once a week to allow for moist, but not excessively saturated soil. Indoors these plants will do best near a window that will provide daytime sunlight and afternoon shade to prevent overexposure to the sun or a risk of drying out the fern’s soil. Luckily, this fern isn’t hard to take care of and does not need to be regularly pruned, making it a great choice for a gardener.

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