Ferns

Christmas Fern The evergreen fronds provide good winter interest for the landscape. The Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides, occurs in both dry and moist wooded slopes, moist banks and ravines. Christmas ferns are asymmetrical with a fine texture and has a moderately dense crown. Stocking shape of the pinnae also suggests Christmas. Sori appear on the undersides of the pinnae only at the ends (last 1/3) of the fronds. These plants serve as hosts for butterfly larvae. This fern does not spread but the clumps increase in size over time.

Christmas Fern It typically grows in a fountain-like clump to 2' tall and features leathery, lance-shaped, evergreen (green at Christmas time as the common name suggests) fronds. Crosiers (young fiddleheads) in spring are silvery and scaled. Christmas ferns are asymmetrical with a fine texture and has a moderately dense crown. The evergreen fronds provide good winter interest for the landscape. Stocking shape of the pinnae also suggests Christmas.

Cinnamon Fern The Cinnamon Fern, Osmunda cinnamonea, occurs in moist, boggy ground along streams and on shaded ledges and grows in clumps to 2'-3' tall, but with constant moisture can reach 5' in height. Cinnamon ferns do not have flowers or blooms. This plant tolerates flooding and will grow in wet submerged soils. Plant them in a loamy woodland soil in some shade to mimic the natural environment. The common name of Cinnamon ferns is in reference to the cinnamon colored fibers found near the fronds base.

Royal Fern Spores are located in brown, tassel-like, fertile clusters at the tips of the fronds, thus giving rise to the additional common name of flowering fern for this plant. The Royal Fern is an excellent selection for wet areas along ponds, streams, water gardens or in bogs. The Royal Fern is also known as the Flowering Fern and is deciduous. Royal Ferns typically grows in clumps to 2-3' tall, but with constant moisture can reach 6' in height. Fronds typically turn yellow to brown in autumn.