Christmas fern
ExplorePlants
Christmas fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
The Christmas fern is a lovely green plant that stays green all winter! It has long, feathery leaves that look like little hands reaching out. This fern is a great friend to many forest animals.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The Christmas fern has glossy, dark green fronds that remain evergreen through winter, unlike many deciduous ferns. Its unique leaflets are earlobe-shaped, often said to resemble tiny Christmas stockings. These leathery fronds grow in a vase-like cluster.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassPolypodiopsidaOrderPolypodialesFamilyDryopteridaceaeGenusPolystichum
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Christmas ferns can grow directly on rocks, using small crevices to anchor their roots.
Each frond can live over a year, slowly replaced by new ones for constant green.
Its fronds resemble miniature Christmas stockings, giving this fern its festive name!
This fern is a living relic, with ancestors dating back hundreds of millions of years!
Special abilities
Ability
Fiddlehead Future
Its new fronds emerge as tightly coiled 'fiddleheads' that slowly unroll into mature, elegant leaves.
Ability
Spore Power
Instead of seeds, Christmas ferns reproduce using tiny spores found on the undersides of their fronds.
Ability
Soil Shield
This fern helps protect forest soil from erosion with its dense network of roots and fronds, especially on slopes.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-75 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
Ecological connections
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Traits
Ornamental
Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Cold Hardy
Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Don't eat any plants without asking an adult first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Christmas fern?
30-75 cm
How wide does Christmas fern spread?
30-60 cm
Is Christmas fern edible?
Yes
Is Christmas fern toxic?
None
What is Christmas fern's lifecycle?
Perennial
Where is Christmas fern usually found?
Forests
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
Where to spot
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Brett Woods Open Space
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Park71 sightings14 species
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Folly Lick Stream Valley Park
You might spot Eastern Skunk Cabbage, Mayapple, and Lesser Celandine.
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Park152 sightings13 species
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Great Falls Park
You might spot Kiwi Bubbles, Common Pawpaw, and Eastern Skunk Cabbage.
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