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Native Plants Series: Christmas Fern

I almost forgot to give you guys a #nativeplantseries post this week!


Guess how this fern got it's name? I'll give you a clue: It's one of the few that are still green in December.



If your shady area is more on the dry side, then Christmas fern (polystichum acrostichoides) may the the right one for you. It does prefer more moist conditions, but can take some dry soil. They will grown in part shade to full shade, and like rich soils. They grow in clumps that gradually get bigger (1-2' wide), but will not spread. These are native to a wide range of eastern North America. You may be surprised to learn that the Christmas fern is a host plant to a handfull of butterflies/moths.


Do you have ferns in your garden?



Photo: Jennifer Anderson, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Source: Missouri Botanical Garden

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