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.
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Part sun 
Shade
