Christmas fern

Sun

Partial to full shade; tolerates gentle morning sun if the soil stays moist. Avoid hot afternoon sun.

Water

Water regularly during the first growing season. Established plants tolerate some dry shade, but benefit from deep watering during prolonged drought.

Soil

Humus-rich, well-drained soil, from slightly acidic to neutral; tolerates some alkaline soils. Avoid waterlogged ground, especially in winter.

Height

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Foliage

Evergreen. Arching, once-divided fronds with glossy, leathery, dark green leaflets. Each leaflet has a small projecting lobe at its base, giving it a stocking-like outline. Fertile fronds have narrower leaflets near their tips. Fronds often flatten against the ground in winter but remain green.

Growth

Slow to moderate; forms an enlarging clump rather than a running colony.

Care needed

Low

• Plant with the crown at soil level, not buried beneath soil or mulch.
• Water deeply during establishment and during extended dry spells.
• Apply a thin layer of leaf mould or compost each spring; routine fertiliser is usually unnecessary.
• Mulch around the clump with shredded leaves, keeping the crown clear.
• Divide only when you need more plants; established clumps can remain undisturbed for years.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, cut off brown or badly damaged fronds at their bases before the new fiddleheads unfurl. Leave healthy green fronds in place and avoid cutting emerging growth.

Late winter

Remove damaged old fronds before new growth begins.

Spring

Plant new ferns or divide established clumps as growth starts; water thoroughly.

Spring

Top-dress with leaf mould or compost, keeping the crown uncovered.

Summer

Check soil moisture during dry weather and water deeply if the root zone dries out.

Autumn

Renew the shredded-leaf mulch without burying the crown.

Winter

Leave green fronds for seasonal cover and avoid trampling them when flattened by snow.

• Plant in loose groups beneath deciduous trees for a persistent green woodland floor.
• Edge shaded paths with clumps whose arching fronds soften the path without spreading rapidly.
• Combine with spring bulbs and woodland wildflowers to maintain foliage after those plants become dormant.
• Use on well-drained shaded slopes, where established roots help hold surface soil.
• Pair with broad-leaved shade plants for a contrast in leaf shape and texture.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Traditional, Low-maintenance, Winter interest and Green on green.

Plant it with: Hostas, Barrenwort, Foamflower, Wild ginger, Virginia bluebells and Solomon's seal.

Wildlife: Clumps provide sheltered ground-level cover for small animals and invertebrates. Deer and rabbits usually leave the leathery foliage alone, though no plant is completely browse-proof.

• Crown or root rot in waterlogged soil: improve drainage or move the plant to a raised, freely draining position; keep mulch off the crown.
• Brown, scorched fronds in strong sun or drought: provide afternoon shade and water deeply during dry spells.
• Slugs and snails damaging young fiddleheads: inspect emerging growth, hand-pick pests and use labelled iron-phosphate bait if needed.
• Winter-burned or flattened foliage: leave green fronds alone and remove only dead or badly damaged growth before spring emergence.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people; no part is recognised as poisonous. It is not an edible fern, so do not harvest its fiddleheads for food.

• Western sword fern (Polystichum munitum)

  Usually forms a much larger clump with longer, more upright fronds. Its fertile fronds do not have the distinctly narrowed upper leaflets typical of Christmas fern.

• Japanese holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum)

  Has fewer, much broader, sickle-shaped leaflets with relatively smooth or coarsely toothed edges, rather than Christmas fern's numerous narrow, finely toothed leaflets.

• Marginal wood fern (Dryopteris marginalis)

  Has more finely divided, twice-divided fronds, rather than Christmas fern's simple row of undivided leaflets. Its spore cases sit close to the margins beneath the leaf segments.

The common name refers to its green fronds lasting through Christmas in its native range, while Polystichum means 'many rows', referring to the arrangement of its spore-bearing structures.

Propagation. Divide healthy clumps in early spring, retaining roots and growing points on each section. Spores can also be sown on a clean, moist medium under cover, but raising plants this way is slow.

Accepted botanical name

Polystichum acrostichoides

In the US and Canada

Native in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and Kentucky.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.