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FIRST IMPRESSIONS:  Polystichum acrostichoides thrives in shady sites with well drained soil.  Plants are heat tolerant with the southern native range into Mexico.  The thick rhizomes aid in erosion control and bank stabilization, but spread is limited to slowly increasing the clump size.  It is commonly called Christmas fern due to the persistently evergreen fronds, 1-2 feet tall, with pinnae that are shaped like a Christmas stocking.  

HABITAT & HARDINESS:  This fern is native to a wide area of eastern North America, from Canada to northeastern Mexico.  Occurs in both dry and moist wooded slopes, moist banks and ravines.  Prefers rich, well drained soils but also performs well in lean rocky and sandy soils.  Tolerant of deer, rabbits and squirrels and resistant to fire in the landscape.

Plants are hardy from USDA Zones 3-9.

PLANT DESCRIPTION:  This deer and rabbit resistant deciduous fern has dark green leathery foliage. Crosiers (young fiddleheads) in spring are silvery and scaled. Black sori appear on the undersides of the pinnae toward the tips of the fertile fronds.  The fertile fronds are narrower at the tip.

CULTURAL & MAINTENANCE NEEDS: No insect or disease problem.  Requires well drained soils in winter to prevent crown rot.

LANDSCAPE USES:  Shade Garden, Native Garden, Woodland Garden, Streambanks

COMPANION & UNDERSTUDY PLANTS:  Try pairing Polystichum acrostichoides with Athyrium filix-femina, Aquilegia canadensis, Carex albicans, Carex plantaginea, Aster divaricatus, Heuchera v. ‘Autumn Bride’ or  Phlox stolonifera.

Dryopteris marginalis could be substituted in some situations.

TRIVIA: Genus name comes from the Greek words polys meaning many and stichos meaning in a row in reference to its spore cases being in rows- Missouri Botanical Garden

Christmas ferns provide winter cover and nesting material for songbirds.