Ferns

Christmas Fern The Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides, occurs in both dry and moist wooded slopes, moist banks and ravines. It typically grows in a fountain-like clump to 2' tall and features leathery, lance-shaped, evergreen (green at Christmas time as the common name suggests) fronds. Crosiers (young fiddleheads) in spring are silvery and scaled. Sori appear on the undersides of the pinnae only at the ends (last 1/3) of the fronds. Christmas ferns are asymmetrical with a fine texture and has a moderately dense crown. The evergreen fronds provide good winter interest for the landscape. This fern does not spread but the clumps increase in size over time. These plants serve as hosts for butterfly larvae.

Christmas Fern Stocking shape of the pinnae also suggests Christmas. The Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides, occurs in both dry and moist wooded slopes, moist banks and ravines. Sori appear on the undersides of the pinnae only at the ends (last 1/3) of the fronds. Crosiers (young fiddleheads) in spring are silvery and scaled. This fern does not spread but the clumps increase in size over time.

Cinnamon Fern The Cinnamon Fern, Osmunda cinnamonea, occurs in moist, boggy ground along streams and on shaded ledges and grows in clumps to 2'-3' tall, but with constant moisture can reach 5' in height. Osumunda fiber used in the potting of orchids comes from the roots of these ferns. Cinnamon ferns do not have flowers or blooms. The yellowish-green sterile fronds remain attractive throughout the summer and turn yellow in autumn. The common name of Cinnamon ferns is in reference to the cinnamon colored fibers found near the fronds base.

Royal Fern The Royal Fern, Osmunda regalis, is a tall, deciduous fern which usually occurs on moist bluffs and ledges and along streams (sometimes growing in the water). The broad fronds have large, well-separated pinnae (leaflets) which give this fern an almost pea-family appearance. Fronds typically turn yellow to brown in autumn. The Royal Fern is also known as the Flowering Fern and is deciduous. Spores are located in brown, tassel-like, fertile clusters at the tips of the fronds, thus giving rise to the additional common name of flowering fern for this plant. It also grows well in shaded borders, woodland gardens, wild gardens or native plant gardens.