Upside-down fern
Arachniodes standishii. Family Dryopteridaceae. Fern.
Also called Standish's holly fern.
This Japanese woodland fern forms broad clumps of finely divided, arching green fronds. Gardeners grow it for its soft texture in shady borders and for its unusual fronds, whose upper surfaces resemble the undersides of many other ferns. It is slow to establish but makes a long-lived plant where the soil stays moist and drains freely.
At a glance
- Sun
- Partial to full shade; avoid hot afternoon sun.
- Water
- Keep the root zone consistently moist but not waterlogged; water during dry spells, especially beneath trees.
- Soil
- Humus-rich, well-drained soil, preferably acidic to neutral.
- Height
- 2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)
- Spread
- 2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)
- Foliage
- Broad, arching, finely divided green fronds with a lacy appearance. Fronds may persist in mild winters but usually die back in colder climates.
- Growth
- Slow to moderate
- Care needed
- Low
The year at a glance
- Deer resistant
- Wildlife
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant |
Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Toughness
- Fairly tough
Will it suit your garden?
Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.
Full sun is 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, part shade 3 to 6 hours, shade under 3.
How it grows
Planting day
1 ft (0.3 m)
After 1 year
1.4 ft (0.42 m)
After 2 years
1.7 ft (0.53 m)
After 3 years
2.1 ft (0.65 m)
After 5 years
2.5 ft (0.75 m)
full size
About 4 years to full size.
From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.
Good to know
- Cats and dogs
- Safe
- Growth rate
- Slow
Care
Jobs through the year
- WaterApr–May, Sep–Oct, every 7 days
- Check established clumps and water if soil begins drying; newly planted ferns need closer attention.
- WaterJun–Aug, every 4 days
- Keep soil consistently moist, especially beneath trees, but skip watering when the root zone is already moist.
- MulchApr–May
- Apply leaf mould or compost around the roots, leaving the crown uncovered.
- PruneFeb–Mar
- Cut dead or damaged fronds at their bases before new growth unfurls.
- DivideMar–Apr
- Divide established clumps only if propagation or relocation is needed.
- ProtectApr–May
- Cover emerging fronds with horticultural fleece when late frost is forecast.
- Plant with the crown at soil level in a sheltered, shaded position.
- Water deeply when the soil begins to dry; do not let newly planted clumps dry out.
- Apply leaf mould or compost around the plant each spring, keeping the crown uncovered.
- Avoid heavy feeding; an annual compost mulch is usually sufficient.
- Leave established clumps undisturbed unless you need to divide or relocate them.
Pruning. Remove dead or winter-damaged fronds in late winter or early spring before new growth unfurls. Cut individual frond stalks close to the base without damaging the crown or emerging shoots.
Through the year
- Late winter
- Cut away dead or badly damaged fronds before new shoots emerge.
- Spring
- Plant new ferns or divide established clumps as growth resumes; water thoroughly.
- Late spring
- Spread leaf mould or compost over the root zone, leaving the crown clear.
- Summer
- Check soil moisture during dry weather, particularly where tree roots compete for water.
- Autumn
- Retain a light layer of fallen leaves around the clump, but remove thick, wet mats from the crown.
In the garden
- Plant in groups beneath deciduous trees where filtered light shows the finely divided fronds.
- Combine with broad-leaved hostas or bergenias for a clear contrast in leaf shape.
- Use beside a shaded path where the unusual frond surfaces can be seen closely.
- Mix with other woodland perennials in a sheltered courtyard or Japanese-style garden.
Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Japanese, Moss and fern garden, Secret garden, Green on green and Pacific Northwest woodland.
Plant it with: Hostas, Bergenias, Epimediums, Hellebores, Japanese forest grass and Foamflower.
Wildlife: The clumps provide sheltered ground-level cover for small invertebrates. As a fern, it has no flowers or nectar for pollinators.
Problems to watch for
- Brown, crisp fronds usually indicate dry soil, hot sun or drying wind; water deeply and provide more shade or shelter.
- Crown or root rot can develop in persistently saturated soil; improve drainage and keep mulch away from the crown.
- Slugs and snails may damage emerging fronds; inspect young growth and use hand-picking or locally approved iron phosphate bait if needed.
- Late frost can blacken new fronds; protect emerging growth with horticultural fleece when frost is forecast.
Safety
Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, but species-specific safety information is limited. No particular part is established as poisonous; do not treat the fronds or young shoots as edible.
Easily confused with
Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina)
Also has finely divided fronds, but generally looks softer and more upright; it lacks the characteristic upper surface that gives upside-down fern its name.
Japanese tassel fern (Polystichum polyblepharum)
Has stiffer, glossier, less finely divided fronds with conspicuous golden-brown scales on the stalks and young growth.
The name
The common name refers to the fronds' apparently reversed surfaces, while standishii honours the English nurseryman John Standish.
Propagation. Divide mature clumps in spring as new growth begins, keeping several growing points and a good root system on each section. It can also be raised from spores, but this is slow and requires clean, consistently humid conditions.
Checked against open data
- Accepted botanical name
- Arachniodes standishii
- Native range
- Japan and Korea.
Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.
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