As you drive by woody websites or hike in the Georgia woods, you are likely to see one of the most common and charming of our native ferns, Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides). In fact, you might even have this fern in your own lawn if you reside on a reasonably undisturbed site.Christmas fern’s evergreen fronds offer 4 seasons of interest, beautifying woods and shady slopes throughout its range. This fern is native to the eastern half of the United States and can be found in Georgia from the coast to the mountains. It is so extensive partially due to its versatility, and in the wild it is found in a wide variety of soil types and conditions. Although the Christmas fern prefers moist, well-drained soil, it is extremely dry spell tolerant, making it one of our most resistant and reputable native ferns. It is most often discovered in partial to full shade but will endure a reasonable amount of sun if sufficient wetness is provided.Its versatility also makes Christmas fern an accommodating and low-maintenance garden
plant, where it serves in numerous capabilities. It makes an efficient high ground cover and is likewise a beautiful buddy to other shade-loving ferns, perennials, and wildflowers. Christmas fern is also delighted in containers, where its evergreen nature is particularly useful.The Christmas fern is a valuable plant to use on high banks or sites that require erosion control. In fact, in the wild
you will frequently see it growing along stream banks and hillsides, where the rhizomatous root structure holds on to the ground and secures the topsoil.With its evergreen nature, this fern offers winter cover for songbirds and other small woodland creatures, so it works in the wildlife habitat garden.
Nevertheless, gardeners will likewise be happy to know that Christmas fern does not typically suffer from serious browsing by deer.Plants are generally 18 to 30 inches high and spread out by a sneaking rhizome to a comparable width. Dense clumps are easily divided, ideally in spring or fall. Under the right conditions, Christmas fern will acclimate by spores, gently expanding its presence in the garden.Christmas fern’s firmly coiled fiddleheads emerge silvery green in early spring. As the leaf develops, it deepens to an abundant and glossy dark green. The stalk of the frond is brown and scaly at the base. The fern leaf is divided into a variety of leaflets that are set up regularly on each side.On fully grown plants, the first fronds that emerge in spring are normally fertile and are held stiffly upright. The spore cases on the back of the pinnae are round and appear on the upper third to half of the fertile leaf. They are set up in rows on each side of the pinna midrib.
The name of the genus Polystichum reflects this characteristic, for in Greek, poly suggests”lots of”and stichos indicates”row.”The fertile fronds are followed by rather shorter sterilized leaves, which tend to be more loosely arching in form.Opinions vary regarding the origin of Christmas fern’s common name. Some think that it originates from the fact that the fern is evergreen at Christmas and was utilized by early inhabitants as vacation decor. Others think it is because the leaflets, especially the larger ones, are formed like a Christmas equipping or like Santa
‘s sleigh or boot. Whatever you pick to think about its name, this native fern is a welcome inhabitant of our natural woodlands and our cultivated gardens.If you ‘d like to include this useful and stunning fern to your garden, you can find it (and other ferns )at sales hosted by the Cherokee County Master Gardeners. Go to the CCMG site (www.cherokeemastergardeners.com )for information on sale dates. Other sources include nurseries that concentrate on native plants, in addition to plant sales hosted by the Georgia Native Plant
Society or by regional nature centers. Go to the GNPS website (www.GNPS.org)for a list of sources for native plants and for a calendar of upcoming plant sales.