Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Also listed as Aspidium acrostichoides, Aetopteron acrostichoides
Also known as Holly Fern, Dagger Fern
Climate Match for your location
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Christmas fern is a native evergreen fern with glossy, dark green fronds that remain attractive year-round, making it a reliable groundcover or accent plant for woodland gardens. It thrives in shaded areas with moist soil and requires minimal maintenance once established.
Why grow it
Christmas fern outperforms many deciduous woodland ferns by maintaining its structure and color through winter, eliminating the bare-ground period that other species leave behind. Its tolerance for dry shade once established makes it more resilient than moisture-dependent alternatives like lady fern, though it still prefers consistent moisture during establishment. For permaculture systems, its evergreen habit provides year-round ground coverage that suppresses weeds and stabilizes soil in shaded understory zones.
Watch out for
Young plants need regular moisture during their first season or two; allowing the soil to dry completely during establishment can set back growth significantly. The fronds are somewhat brittle and can break under foot traffic or heavy snow load, so avoid planting in high-traffic pathways. In warmer zones with very hot summers, afternoon shade becomes increasingly important to prevent frond scorch and stress.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Dryopteridaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Christmas fern is a native evergreen fern with glossy, dark green fronds that remain attractive year-round, making it a reliable groundcover or accent plant for woodland gardens. It thrives in shaded areas with moist soil and requires minimal maintenance once established.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Christmas Fern grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Christmas fern outperforms many deciduous woodland ferns by maintaining its structure and color through winter, eliminating the bare-ground period that other species leave behind. Its tolerance for dry shade once established makes it more resilient than moisture-dependent alternatives like lady fern, though it still prefers consistent moisture during establishment. For permaculture systems, its evergreen habit provides year-round ground coverage that suppresses weeds and stabilizes soil in shaded understory zones.
Watch out for
Young plants need regular moisture during their first season or two; allowing the soil to dry completely during establishment can set back growth significantly. The fronds are somewhat brittle and can break under foot traffic or heavy snow load, so avoid planting in high-traffic pathways. In warmer zones with very hot summers, afternoon shade becomes increasingly important to prevent frond scorch and stress.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Dryopteridaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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