Christmas fern.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Fern

Light

Partial shade to full shade

Indoor light

Medium light

Water

Every 5 to 10 days

Mature size

1 to 2 feet

Growth rate

Medium

Hardiness

USDA 3 to 9

Bloom time

Does not bloom

Care

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.

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy.

Feeding

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

Pruning

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

Repotting

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

Soil

Moist, well-draining, humus-rich soil

Soil pH

Acidic to neutral

Temperature

-30 to 35°C

Humidity

40 to 80%

Safety

People

There is no significant toxicity reported for humans.

Children

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

Contact allergens

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

Airborne allergens

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

Edibility

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

How to identify it

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

Height

0.3 to 0.6m

Spread

0.3 to 0.6m

Leaves

dark green, evergreen

Flowers

0cm

Problems to watch for

• Scale InsectsCommon
• Leaf SpotUncommon
• Root RotUncommon
• Slugs and SnailsUncommon

Growing it

Propagation

division, spores

When to plant

spring, autumn

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

Grows well with

• Wild Ginger · They share similar shade and moisture requirements.
• Hosta · The contrasting leaf textures look great together in a shade garden.
• Coral Bells · They provide colorful foliage contrast against the dark green fern fronds.

Similar species

• Marginal Wood Fern · It is another evergreen fern that thrives in similar woodland conditions.

Science

Family

Dryopteridaceae

Genus

Polystichum

Order

Polypodiales

Class

Polypodiopsida

Native range

Eastern North America

Conservation

This species is common and secure throughout its native range.

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

Value to wildlife

provides winter cover for small wildlife, nesting material for birds

Uses

woodland gardens, erosion control, shaded borders, ground cover

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

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.

Where the name comes from

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

Good to know

• 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.

Also in

• Plants for shade