Product Description
Polystichum acrostichoides Bare Root Plants
Common Name: Christmas Fern, evergreen fern, stocking fern
- Height: 12-24 Inches
- Spread: 12-24 Inches
- Hardiness Zone: 3-9
- Part Shade to Shade
- Evergreen
- Native to Eastern U.S.
- Clumping habit
- Sword shaped, leathery fronds
- Tolerates dry to moist soil
Polystichum acrostichoides, commonly known as Christmas fern, is a perennial, evergreen fern that is native to eastern North America. It is a member of the Dryopteridaceae.
Christmas ferns grow to a height of 1-2 feet in a clumping habit. Leathery, lance-shaped fronds are up to 18 inches long. The fronds are dark green in color and have a sword shape appearance. The name "Christmas fern" derives from the evergreen fronds, which are often still green at Christmas. Young fiddleheads in spring have a silver sheen.
Easy to grow in organically rich, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Ideal location is light shade and moist acidic to slightly alkaline soil. Clumps expand by rhizomes but will not spread by rhizomes.
Evergreen through the winter, Christmas Fern has been used for Christmas decorations, as the pinnae looks like small Christmas stockings.
Use in mass plantings for erosion control, as border plants, along foundations and walls. Do not trim old fronds until they turn brown. Tough and adaptable Christmas Fern is a native fern that can be found on wooded slopes, banks and ravines throughout the eastern United States. Leaves can be used in cut flower arrangements.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
