Christmas fern is a rhizomatous, densely scaly-scruffy, evergreen herbaceous perennial in the polypody family (Polypodiaceae). It is native to a wide area of eastern North America, from Canada to northeastern Mexico. The species epithet is Latin for “like Acrostichum ,” which is a genus of tropical ferns in the ribbon-fern family (Pteridaceae). It is best grown in organically rich, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. This fern spreads very slowly, and its clumps will increase in size over time. Christmas fern grows as rosettes in rich rocky woods, along stream banks, in swamps or thickets. The fern produces black spores on the underside of the leaf, but not all fronds are fertile. The fertile fronds are narrower at the tip. Curled fiddleheads of new leaves emerge silvery in the spring. In mass plantings, it makes an excellent plant to combat soil erosion on slopes. It can be grown in a woodland area, or in native, shade or winter gardens. It provides winter cover near the ground for songbirds who also use parts and scale-like hairs in nest construction. Quick ID Hints : Fronds dimorphic Fertile pinnae terminate, reduced in size Pinnae basally auricled stipe chaffy Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant has no serious insect or disease problems. Crown rot problems can occur in poorly drained soils, particularly in the winter. Watch for Florida Fern Caterpillar. VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington , Director of JC Raulston Arboretum . More information on Polystichum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Leathery, lance-shaped, evergreen (green at Christmas time as the common name suggests) fronds. Stocking shape of the pinnae also suggests Christmas. Crosiers (young fiddleheads) in spring are silvery and scaled. Sori appear on the undersides of the pinnae only at the ends (last 1/3) of the fronds. The Christmas fern has tufted circular clump of stiff, deep green fronds (leaves). The blade is a once-pinnately compound, linear-lanceolate shaped broadest at the base. Its fertile fronds are taller, more rigid, more erect, constricted at the tip and die in the winter. Its sterile fronds are smaller and less erect and remain evergreen. Sterile pinnae are in the middle and base of fronds, are linear-oblong, are basally acutely auriculate, and are minutely spinose-dentate. The pinnae are auricled with marginal bristle teeth and are dimorphic with 20-35 pinnae pairs. The stipe and rachis are scaly and chaffy. Its short stipe is green but brown at base. Its yellow spored sori occur only on terminal one-third of the frond. Its fronds have many leaflets and grow directly from the ground in a clump, so no bark is present. This fern produces black spores on the underside of the leaf.
Flower detail
No flowers.
Fruit detail
No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern Canada to Mexico
Distribution
United States: AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WV, and WI; Mexico Northeast, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec
Wildlife value
It provides winter cover near the ground. White-tailed deer will occasionally browse this plant but not damage it. Songbirds use the parts and scale-like hairs in nest construction. Attracts Ruffed Grouse.