Michele Widdowson
My little fern "bulbs" arrived in great shape. I"m following the included instructions and can't wait for my new ferns to pop up!
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3-9
Over 2 Feet
Moderate and Low
Partial shade and Shade
Spring
Christmas Ferns are low-maintenance and thrive in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. Keep the dirt always moist but not waterlogged. They benefit from occasional applications of compost and should be kept free of debris to prevent disease. Prune dead fronds as necessary.
Shade
Shade-loving evergreen fern with year-round interest , Cold-tolerant foliage adds winter woodland beauty, Native fern improves soil and stabilizes slopes
Michele Widdowson
My little fern "bulbs" arrived in great shape. I"m following the included instructions and can't wait for my new ferns to pop up!
Pamela Tanis
Christmas ferns arrived early and looked very healthy.They are now planted and looking forward to see them grow.
Charlotte Sturm
Plants were shipped on Monday, I received on Friday. All looked and felt like they were healthy. I ordered 5 ferns, got 6. I ordered 2 milkweeds, got 3. The extras ****
About this plant
Christmas Fern is one of those native woodland plants that quietly does its job year after year without demanding much attention. Its deep green fronds stay attractive even through winter, which is rare in shaded gardens where most plants disappear once cold weather arrives. Native to forests throughout the eastern United States, this fern feels right at home beneath mature trees, along wooded paths, or tucked into shaded landscape borders.
Unlike some ferns that can look delicate or fussy, the Polystichum acrostichoides is sturdy and adaptable. It forms soft clumps that usually grow to about 1 to 2 feet tall and slowly fill in over time without becoming invasive. Many gardeners use it on hillsides or shady banks because the roots help hold soil in place while the evergreen foliage keeps the area from looking bare during winter.
This fern prefers rich, well-drained soil with moderate moisture, though established plants can tolerate short dry periods better than many people expect. It grows best in part shade to full shade and handles rocky woodland conditions with ease. Another reason gardeners appreciate it is that deer tend to leave it alone, making it dependable in rural landscapes.
In spring, bright green fiddleheads emerge upright before opening into arching fronds with a natural woodland appearance. It pairs beautifully with trilliums, mosses, hostas, woodland phlox, and other shade-loving native plants.
At TN Nursery, Christmas Fern plants are shipped dormant during the proper planting season. Bare-root ferns can appear simple at first glance, but once planted in suitable conditions, they establish quickly and return larger each season.
Yes. The fronds stay green through winter, which is where the plant gets its common name. In some cooler areas, like zones 3-4 in the deep North, they may lose some of their foliage in the winter season but will regrow back in Spring and stay green 10 months out of the year even in those severe cold states.
They are moderate spreaders but are not aggressive or invasive at all.
Yes, it performs very well in full shade and woodland settings where many other plants struggle.
Since 1959, TN Nursery has grown and shipped quality bare root plants nationwide. Shipped during dormancy, bare-root plants develop strong root systems and establish quickly. Our experienced team carefully harvests and packages every order, providing growers with trusted plants backed by over 65 years of nursery experience.
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