Christmas Fern (Polystichum)
Perennial
- Evergreen fern provides four seasons of interest, even in the winter!
- Extremely easy to grow & features beautiful vivid green foliage.
- Native perennial ideal for rock, woodland, and shade gardens.
- Deer and rabbit-resistant, pet-friendly.
- Zones 3-9, shade/part sun, 2' tall and wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Christmas ferns are reliable and easy to grow perennials in the garden. It grows well in nearly any soil, resists deer and rabbits, and is low maintenance. Once established, it's surprisingly drought tolerant as well! Try planting this graceful fern in your rock, woodland, or shade gardens for four seasons of interest.
Details
Common name: Christmas fern, dagger fern
Zone: 3 – 9
Sun exposure: Shade (< 4 hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun)
Height x width: 1-2' tall and wide
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Year-round
Features: Heat tolerant, evergreens, drought tolerant, deer resistant, container plants, cold tolerant, best for beginners
Uses: Accents, border, container, ground cover, massing, small spaces, specimen, underplanting, woodland
How to Grow
Light: Shade (< 4 hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun)
Water: Average. They prefer consistently moist soils.
Spacing: 18 – 24 inches
Fertilizing: It is not required, but a slow-release fertilizer can be applied in the spring if the soil lacks nutrients.
Winterizing: Leave foliage stand in winter.
Maintenance & pruning: Cut back old fronds after new growth begins in spring. Divide the root clump in spring to propagate this fern.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.