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Polystichum acrostichoides (Michaux) Schott. Common name: Christmas Fern. Phenology: Jun-Nov. Habitat: Moist to dry forests and woodlands, especially slopes, ravines, and small stream bottomlands. Distribution: NS west to MN, south to s. FL and e. TX; also in ne. Mexico (NLE and TAM).

ID notes: One of the most familiar ferns in e. North America.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Var. lonchitoides Brooks, allegedly endemic to WV, is just a form and should not be recognized taxonomically.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, ETx1, F, Fl1, FNA2, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mo1, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S13, Sf, Tn, Tx, TxFerns, Va, W, WH3, WV; Nephrodium acrostichoides Michx. > Polystichum acrostichoides (Michx.) Schott var. acrostichoides — NS, POWO, Tat; > Polystichum acrostichoides (Michx.) Schott var. lonchitoides Brook — NS, POWO; > Polystichum acrostichoides (Michx.) Schott var. schweinitzii (Beck) Small — Tat. Basionym: Nephrodium acrostichoides Michx. 1803

Links to other floras: = Polystichum acrostichoides - FNA2

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
  • Great Plains: FACU
  • Midwest: UPL
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU

Heliophily ⓘ: 3

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image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Erik Danielson source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Polystichum acrostichoides, unusual form, Blacks Bluff Preserve, The Nature Conservancy, Floyd County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

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Height: 1-2 ft.

plant sale text: Christmas fern is easily grown in a variety of soils, and tolerates partial to full shade. This SE native fern is commonly seen growing in woodlands throughout North Carolina. Its leathery evergreen fronds bear stocking-shaped pinnae, which is one explanation for how it got its common name. Established plants grow into sizable clumps that add color and interest to the shade garden throughout the year. Christmas fern can be planted singly as an accent, or en masse as a ground cover.

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native range: eastern N. America & Mexico



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