Why the Christmas Fern Is a Timeless Choice for Your Garden

Christmas Fern, also known as Polystichum acrostichoides, is a perennial from primarily eastern North America with leaves that stay green even through the holiday season. This plant’s popularity comes from its fountain-like fronds that spawn from its base.

Christmas Fern Care: Tips for Thriving Year-Round Elegance

The fronds of this evergreen Christmas Fern plant generally grow to 1 to 2 feet long, while the plant usually grows 2 to 3 feet tall. The fronds stay glossy and green all year, although longer when the plant is fertile. The fern is also among the first to emerge again in the spring. When the fronds emerge, they are initially upright. They later arch gently to the ground and become solid ground cover when fully mature. This also means their appearance will change slightly throughout the year, refreshing the look of a large garden. 

The fern performs best in excellent, moist soil with lots of shade, as this plant originated from a rocky, vegetation-lush habitat. The USDA says it grows best in hardiness zones 3 through 9. This hardy fern plant is also resistant to damage from pests such as small animals and deer, making it an excellent choice for those in northern states with deer problems. It provides excellent ground cover and accents. They can be used as a border for a more extensive garden, to fill space in a large yard, or even as a potted houseplant. 

Enhance Your Landscape with the Hardy and Versatile Christmas Fern

Christmas Ferns can also be placed in a planter. Be sure to mist them at least once a week to allow for moist but not excessively saturated soil. Indoors, these plants will do best near a window that provides daytime sunlight and afternoon shade to prevent overexposure to the sun or the risk of drying out the fern’s soil. Luckily, this fern isn’t hard to care for and does not need to be regularly pruned, making it an excellent choice for a gardener.

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Choose early spring or fall when the soil is moist and cool to plant healthy bare-root ferns. You can also use dormant plants to grow year-round. When you arrive, please soak the roots in water for several hours to rehydrate them. Ferns thrive in moist and shaded areas. Dig a hole wide and deep enough to spread out the roots comfortably. Position the fern so the crown (where the roots meet the fronds) is just at or slightly below ground level. Gently backfill with soil firmly around the roots, and thoroughly water to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch for weed control and to retain moisture, ensuring the mulch does not touch the crown. Water during dry periods is used to keep soil moist but not soggy. Avoid fertilizing in the first year, as ferns prefer nutrient-rich soil over direct fertilization.

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