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Christmas Fern {3 1/2 in. Pots, min 25}
45 customer reviews
Polystichum acrostichoides (AKA Nephrodium acrostichoides, Polystic Faux-acrostiche, Holiday Fern, Dagger Fern)
Pronunciation: pol-ee-STIK-um a-kros-tih-KOY-deez
Product: 2174

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Temporarily out of stock. Expected 03/02/2026.
(minimum of 25) 3 1/2 in. Pots
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Aptly nicknamed, Polystichum acrostichoides, commonly called Christmas Fern, is a favorite evergreen fern everyone loves to place in patches throughout their gardens. Its lanceolate emerald fronds are divided and leathery with hardy, holly-like leaflets and edible silvery spring-time fiddleheads.

Typically, it grows in fountain-like clumps with the fronds sprouting out of a solitary crown which, over the years, makes a very large, dense mound.

Christmas Fern shows her foliage off when she is used as a borders, edging and along foundations or walls. Difficult spaces with little soil don't intimidate this fern and you'll be surprised at how adaptable and willing to grow she is.

Christmas Fern is low maintenance, easy-to-grow, and deer tend to avoid her. When placed on slight slopes, especially drier, rocky ones, mass plantings of Christmas fern will provide a lush hillside of green that doubles as erosion control.

Interesting Facts
Edible fiddleheads are considered a delicacy and have been named Vermont's state vegetable. Try cooking these delightful vegetables by simply harvesting when about two inches from the ground and still tightly rolled. Treat them as you would asparagus or try them in quiches and soups. Delicious!


Christmas Fern is a Missouri native found in ravines and on humid banks and wooded slopes.

The common name "Christmas Fern" comes from its evergreen nature and its past use as Christmas decoration; its pinnae even resemble small Christmas stockings.

Gardener Tips
With her slow to moderate growth rate, Christmas Fern grows very little in the first season. Consider purchasing more plants initially for quicker coverage with the bonus of being able to divide her after a few years.

Polystichum acrostichoides' fronds are often used in flower arrangements.

This fern will not disappoint you in a rock garden coupled with such beauties as Creeping Jenny. to blanket the ground and Lavender for vivid contrasts in texture and colors of foliage. Add Coral Bells to soften the garden and provide lovely flower spikes.

If you are considering purchasing this plant in bare root form, please read about bare root plants so you know what to expect. Evergreen once established, if you purchase during winter or spring the roots will not have foliage.
See other plants that go well with this plant.
General information about Ferns:
When gardeners and landscape designers are looking for a dramatic, vibrant spray of color and foliage, they will often consider ferns for their project. In addition to sweeping texture and lush greenery, ferns work wonderfully as independent or companion perennials.

Perfect in mass plantings where they create the feeling of a field of grass swaying gently in soft breezes, ferns are also delightful as borders where they stand like shapely chartreuse soldiers at the edges of garden beds. Then again, when used as accents, in single plantings, or clusters amidst a rock garden, you have a moving work of willowy art.

But what to choose? You’ll be pleased to know that after more than 40 years of experimenting with various ferns, we have compiled a selection of the easiest to grow and hardiest ferns. Essentially, we’ve narrowed the list down for you, so you can select from our varieties with confidence. A bonus with our ferns is that all, except Japanese Painted Fern and Japanese Shield Fern are native to the United States.

Our ferns generally thrive in part shade and full shade. Have a full sun location? Southern Shield Fern even tolerates full sun! You will love the hardiness of our ferns as all of them are tolerant of drought and most are rarely eaten by deer.

Selections like Christmas Fern are wonderful erosion control options. With some ferns being evergreen and some semi-evergreen, you are sure to find the option that works wonderfully for your garden. Be sure to check each plant's Description tab for details.

Special note when planting bare root ferns in hot weather: If you plant bare root ferns during hot weather it is common for the foliage to die off. Do not fret, as long as you keep them moist they will grow back foliage. Depending on the severity of the heat it might not be until after summer ends.

See all ferns
Specifications
Shipping
No unusual shipping concerns for this plant.
FREE SHIPPING - Classy Groundcovers offers free shipping, and your plants never spend more than three days in transit.

Precise delivery - another benefit from shopping with us is that you know how to control exactly when your order will be shipped.

Shipping information that applies to all plants:
- When We Ship
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- Lookup Shipping Date and Tracking Information
- Special Delivery Instructions
- No Shipments To: AK, AZ, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA or internationally
- Changing Your Shipping Date
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Care
Ferns have delicate foliage that often suffers during shipment and transplanting. Cut off any foliage that is broken, bent, brown or yellow - the plants will quickly recuperate with fresh growth. Bare root ferns are particularly prone to foliage loss, it is not uncommon to have to cut them off at ground level when transplanting. As long as the roots are firm they will recover, often showing new growth within weeks during warm months. If transplanting bare root ferns during warm weather they might not send up foliage until summer ends or the following spring (best to transplant bare root ferns when they are dormant: late fall to early spring).
General information that applies to all plants:
- Ground preparation, fertilization, pH
- Planting instructions
- Explanation and description of bare roots
- How to plant bare root plants
- If you cannot plant bare roots right away

Reviews
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Christmas ferns
10/07/2021 By Delce Dyer (NC)
Product reviewed: Christmas Fern {Bare Root Plants, min 25}

They arrived in great condition. I have turned all of them up right pending planting but the generous root balls should keep them in good condition.
Wonderful Plants!
04/06/2021 By Brenda Frank (VA)
Product reviewed: Christmas Fern {Bare Root Plants, min 10}

Quick shipping. All 45 plants were healthy and well-packed. We installed all of them and are expecting them to thrive. Excellent purchase.
Not satisfactory
08/12/2020 By James Hood (SC)
Product reviewed: Christmas Fern {Bare Root Plants, min 25}

I have purchased Christmas Ferns when I lived in CT and now in SC and both times I have been very disappointed with the results. They just don't seem to grow well despite good locations.

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08/12/2020 Classy Groundcovers comment:
I see no record... Read full review >
Ferns
08/11/2020 By Howard Weir (DC)
Product reviewed: Christmas Fern {3 1/2 in. Pots min 25}

Arrived in perfect conditions
On a slope
07/06/2020 By Gloria Eby (AR)
Product reviewed: Christmas Fern {Bare Root Plants, min 25}

I purchased these ferns for a dry slope that runs down to a wet weather creek. The soil is rocky and not terribly fertile, but there are native ferns that grow in the area and I am hoping for a good showing. I will order more if these 25 plants do well... Read full review >
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