Christmas fern.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Facile

Type de plante

Fern

Lumière

Partial shade to full shade

Lumière en intérieur

Lumière moyenne

Arrosage

Tous les 5 à 10 jours

Taille adulte

1 to 2 feet

Croissance

Moyenne

Rusticité

USDA 3 à 9

Floraison

Does not bloom

Entretien

Plant this fern in rich, moist soil and keep it sheltered from harsh afternoon sun. Watch for browning fronds during extreme dry spells, which indicate it needs more moisture. It is quite hardy and rarely needs much fuss once established.

Arrosage

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy.

Engrais

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer once in early spring.

Taille

Trim back old, tattered fronds in late winter before new growth emerges.

Rempotage

Repot only when the root system becomes crowded or the plant outgrows its container.

Sol

Moist, well-draining, humus-rich soil

pH du sol

Acidic to neutral

Température

-30 à 35°C

Humidité

40 à 80%

Sécurité

Humains

There is no significant toxicity reported for humans.

Enfants

The plant is generally safe, but the stiff fronds can be sharp and should be handled with care by small children.

Allergènes de contact

Handling the fronds may cause minor skin irritation in sensitive individuals due to the texture of the scales.

Allergènes aéroportés

The spores released from the underside of the fronds can trigger mild respiratory irritation in those with severe allergies.

Comestibilité

This plant is not considered edible and should not be consumed.

Comment l'identifier

• Leathery, dark green fronds
• Pinnae shaped like Christmas stockings
• Scaly stems near the base
• Evergreen foliage year round

Hauteur

0,3 à 0,6m

Envergure

0,3 à 0,6m

Feuilles

dark green, evergreen

Fleurs

0cm

Problèmes courants

• Scale insects — Small sap sucking insects that appear as bumps on the underside of fronds.

La cultiver

Multiplication

division, spores

Quand planter

spring, autumn

Group this fern with other shade loving woodland plants to create a naturalistic forest floor effect.

Bonnes associations

• Asarum canadense — They share similar shade and moisture requirements.
• Hosta — The contrasting leaf textures look great together in a shade garden.
• Heuchère — They provide colorful foliage contrast against the dark green fern fronds.

Espèces similaires

• Dryopteris marginalis — It is another evergreen fern that thrives in similar woodland conditions.

Science

Famille

Dryopteridaceae

Genre

Polystichum

Ordre

Polypodiales

Classe

Polypodiopsida

Région d'origine

Eastern North America

Préservation

This species is common and secure throughout its native range.

It grows in rocky, moist, shaded woodlands where it helps stabilize soil on slopes.

Intérêt pour la faune

provides winter cover for small wildlife, nesting material for birds

Utilisations

woodland gardens, erosion control, shaded borders, ground cover

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Does it need full sun?

No, it prefers partial to full shade.

Should I cut it back?

You can trim old, tattered fronds in early spring before new growth emerges.

D'où vient le nom

The name acrostichoides refers to the resemblance of the spore clusters to those of the genus Acrostichum.

Bon à savoir

• The leaflets are shaped like a Christmas stocking.
• It is one of the most common ferns in the eastern United States.
• It thrives in rocky, wooded slopes.

Aussi dans

• Plantes d'ombre