The Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides, is a native North American plant common to woodlands in the eastern United States and Canada. It is a hardy, evergreen fern with dark green, sword-shaped fronds that can grow up to two feet tall.
Nobody knows how the Christmas Fern got its name. Some point to the shape of its leaflets, or pinnae. Each pinna is long and narrow, with a short section near the stem that juts out at a right angle, resembling a Christmas stocking or one of Santa’s boots. Others point out that Polystichum acrostichoides is one of the few woodland plants still green in December, and was once gathered for use in Christmas decorations.
An Easy-Care Plant for the Shade Garden
Christmas Ferns are an excellent choice for many problem areas in the shade garden: they can thrive under trees, in rocky spots and can check erosion on shady slopes.
Christmas Ferns demand little care. They prefer partial shade but will tolerate some direct sun if the soil is kept moist; they will even survive periods of drought. They virtually mulch themselves; old fronds fall to the ground in spring as new fiddleheads emerge. They are resistant to pests and diseases and are seldom bothered by deer.
Year-Round Beauty in the Shade
Christmas Ferns offer an attractive backdrop for all kinds of flowers, both wildflowers and cultivars. Florists often choose Christmas fern fronds as accents for floral arrangements.
In cooler months, when most flowers have faded, Christmas Ferns will continue to lend visual interest to the shade garden, remaining green and handsome amid autumn leaves and winter snow. A garden where Christmas Ferns have been planted is never truly barren.
Planting and Propagating Christmas Ferns
Christmas Ferns can be purchased as potted plants or rhizomes. Rhizomes should be planted with the crown just below the level of the soil. The ideal soil is rich in organic material such as peat moss, leaf humus and loam.
Like most ferns, Christmas Ferns reproduce by spores. Given adequate soil and moisture they will multiply annually. Gardeners can also propagate Christmas Ferns by dividing established plants that are at least two years old. Christmas Ferns transplant easily; simply keep a large ball of native soil around the roots and work a generous quantity of the same soil into the transplant spot.
By combining natural and assisted propagation, a thriving colony of Christmas Ferns can be established in three to four years. They are a beautiful and low-maintenance addition to any shade garden.
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