Christmas Fern (1 Gallon)

Choose Christmas Fern for a tidy native fern that keeps structure in shade; the tradeoff is it clumps politely instead of spreading fast to cover bare ground.

Buy This If

• You want a clumping fern.
• You prefer native shade planting.
• You need winter foliage structure.

Skip This If

• You need quick spreading coverage.
• The site dries out often.
• Deer browsing is constant.

PGNE Report Card

Our Experience

At PGNE, we'd typically recommend Christmas Fern when the customer wants a dependable native fern that stays where it is planted and does not take over the bed. It is also our first pick for holding a shaded slope: because it is evergreen, its fronds keep catching rain and holding soil through the winter months when deciduous ferns have collapsed.

Plant Facts

Customers Usually Ask

Does it spread?

No, it forms clumps rather than running through the bed.

Is this a wetland plant?

No. It is rated FACU, meaning it usually occurs in non-wetlands. It belongs on the upland side of a buffer planting or on a shaded slope — for the wet zone use Cinnamon, Sensitive, or American Royal Fern.

Why is it good for slopes?

It is evergreen, so unlike deciduous ferns its fronds are still there through winter and early spring rains, when bare shaded soil is most likely to wash.

Does it stay green in winter?

Yes, the foliage holds through winter, though older fronds can look worn by spring.