Christmas Fern

Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)

Part shade to full shade, medium to moderately dry moisture, tolerates heavy clay; the most drought-tolerant of the common native shade ferns once established.

1–2 feet tall by 1–2 feet spread; evergreen, dark-green fronds remain through winter (the common name refers to their availability for holiday decoration); fertile pinnules restricted to the upper third of the frond; spreads slowly by short rhizomes to form neat, non-invasive clumps.

Native region: Statewide in Tennessee, one of the most common native ferns; found on wooded slopes, rocky ravines, and shaded limestone outcrops across the state.

The most reliably adaptable native fern for home landscapes in Middle Tennessee — tolerates the dry clay conditions on shaded slopes that defeat most other fern species. Unlike Onoclea sensibilis, it does not run aggressively into adjacent plantings. Works well massed along shaded foundations or on north-facing slopes where lawn establishment is impractical. In Columbia-area landscapes, it frequently self-establishes beneath mature oaks and hickories with no supplemental irrigation once the root system is established. Divide clumps in early spring; germination from spores is possible but slow.