Christmas Fern

Jan 3

Written By Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association

Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas Fern)

Unlike so many other ferns in our region, this one is still green at Christmas. It will remain so throughout the remainder of winter and has long been used in winter holiday decorations. Some enthusiasts take delight in pointing out that each individual leaflet on a frond resembles a small Christmas stocking – each leaflet (or “pinna” in botanical terms) complete with a small heel and toe area.

While the oldest fronds eventually become tired and turn brown, overall the plant maintains its evergreen presence year-round. New fronds, in early spring, covered in silvery gray hairs, rise straight up 12-24” before eventually settling back down (by the end of the season) to rest on those that came before them. Some gardeners prefer to trim away the old browned-out fronds when the new growth emerges; others prefer to leave all in place as a natural mulch, allowing the old growth to discourage unwanted plants from coming up within the spread of the fern and to enrich the soil (as they decompose) in a process that has been repeated for millennia.

In wild locations these are often found on shaded, rocky slopes; along wooded stream banks; in ravines; most typically in shaded or semi-open spaces; occasionally in swamps. Due to the influences of gravity, flowing water and organic debris sliding into them from uphill, plants on slopes usually appear to be one-sided, with all fronds flowing downhill, as pictured. In level areas this fern maintains a uniform circular footprint. They are essentially clump-forming in habit, not colony-forming as are some ferns, very tolerant of differing soil conditions and very easy to grow in gardens.