Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
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Perennial in the Dryopteridaceae Family | |||||
Buy Christmas Fern | |||||
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Polystichum acrostichoides, commonly known as the Christmas Fern or Dagger Fern, is a evergreen, hardy fern native to the eastern and central regions of North America. This distinctive fern is prized for its striking, leathery fronds and its ability to maintain its foliage throughout the winter months, making it a popular choice for year-round garden interest. Growing to a height of 12-24 inches, Polystichum acrostichoides is characterized by its upright, vase-shaped growth habit and its deeply-divided, lance-shaped fronds. The fronds are dark green in color, with a leathery, almost waxy texture, and can reach up to 24 inches in length. The plant's fertile fronds, which emerge in the spring, are slightly taller and narrower than the sterile fronds, and produce spore-bearing structures along their undersides. Polystichum acrostichoides thrives in partial to full shade and well-drained, humus-rich soils. Its evergreen nature and tolerance for a variety of soil types make it an excellent choice for woodland gardens, shaded borders, and rock gardens. The fern's sturdy, architectural foliage also makes it a popular choice for cut greenery and floral arrangements. Beyond its ornamental value, Polystichum acrostichoides has a long history of use in traditional medicine, with the plant's rhizomes and fronds being used to treat a variety of ailments, including skin conditions and respiratory issues. Whether grown for its year-round foliage, its striking visual impact, or its traditional medicinal uses, the Christmas Fern is a beloved and versatile addition to any shaded garden or natural landscape. |
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Plant Data | |||||
Mature Size | 18 - 24 inches tall. 18 - 24 inches wide. | ||||
Sun Exposure | Partial Sun - Full Shade | ||||
Moisture Tolerance | Medium | ||||
Zones | 3a - 9b (Usually hardy to -40° F) | ||||
Tags | Deer Resistant, Full Shade, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Medium, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant | ||||
Bloom Period | Non-flowering | ||||
Flower Color | Non-Flowering | ||||
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Photos of This with...Ruby Red Perfection Cabbage |
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Pricing and Availability HistoryClick a label to toggle visibility for that size
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We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!
Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.
Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.
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Membership is free, but — since we rely on delivery and local pick-up — you have to live near one of our hubs (or be willing to drive to a site to pick them up). If you live farther away, and would like to help us bring the club to your neighbors, please email helpusgrow@northshoreplantclub.com.
To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.
Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!
We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.
Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!