3 Christmas Fern Bare Root Plants (Polystichum Acrostichoides) – Outdoor Evergreen Shade Plant

Overview

Introduce lasting greenery to your garden with our 3-pack of Christmas Fern bare root plants. This robust and beautiful fern, scientifically known as Polystichum Acrostichoides, is a fantastic choice for adding texture and life to shaded areas of your landscape. Unlike many deciduous ferns, the Christmas Fern bare root retains its vibrant green fronds throughout the winter, providing continuous visual interest even in colder months. It’s a truly low-maintenance evergreen fern that is renowned for its resilience and adaptability, making it an ideal candidate for gardeners of all skill levels. Each bare root plant is carefully prepared for planting, ensuring a healthy start in your garden. The distinctive, leathery, lance-shaped fronds create a classic woodland aesthetic, perfect for naturalizing or formal shade borders. This easy care fern will quickly establish itself, transforming dimly lit corners into lush, verdant havens.

Key Benefits

The Christmas Fern bare root offers numerous advantages for any gardener looking to enhance their outdoor space with a reliable and attractive plant. Its enduring beauty and minimal requirements make it a standout choice:

• Year-Round Greenery: As an evergreen fern, the Christmas Fern maintains its lush green foliage throughout the winter, providing continuous color and texture when most other plants have faded. This makes it invaluable for winter interest in your shade garden fern.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, this fern requires very little attention. It’s drought-tolerant and pest-resistant, making it an excellent option for busy gardeners or those new to planting. Enjoy its beauty without constant fuss.
• Adaptable to Shade: Thriving in partial to full shade, the Polystichum Acrostichoides is perfect for those challenging areas under trees, along north-facing walls, or in wooded gardens where other plants struggle to grow.
• Deer Resistant: The Christmas Fern is generally passed over by deer, making it a reliable choice for gardens in areas with deer populations where other plants might be browsed.
• Soil Improvement: Its extensive root system can help prevent soil erosion on slopes and banks, contributing to the overall health and stability of your garden landscape.
• Naturalizing Ability: This fern is excellent for naturalizing in woodland settings, creating a serene and authentic forest floor appearance. It spreads gracefully without being invasive.
• Easy to Grow: Shipped as a Christmas Fern bare root, it is ready to plant and quickly establish itself, proving itself to be an incredibly easy care fern.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Christmas Fern bare root is straightforward, making it an excellent addition to almost any garden. To ensure optimal growth and health, focus on providing the right environment. This Polystichum Acrostichoides thrives in conditions that mimic its natural woodland habitat. For sunlight requirements, it prefers partial to full shade. This means it can tolerate a few hours of morning sun but should be protected from harsh afternoon rays, which can scorch its fronds. Ideal locations include under the canopy of deciduous trees or on the north side of a building.

When it comes to watering, the Christmas Fern prefers consistently moist, but not waterlogged, soil. Water regularly, especially during dry spells and in its first year of establishment. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so ensure good drainage. The soil type should be rich in organic matter, acidic (pH < 6.8), and well-draining. Incorporating compost or other organic amendments before planting will greatly benefit its growth. This evergreen fern is quite resilient once established and will contribute to a vibrant shade garden fern.

The Christmas Fern is generally hardy in USDA zones 3-9. It prefers cooler temperatures and can tolerate cold winters, maintaining its green foliage. Fertilization is typically not necessary if planted in rich, humus-filled soil. If your soil is poor, a light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring can be beneficial. Watch out for common garden pests, though the Christmas Fern is quite resistant. Ensuring proper growing conditions will lead to a thriving and beautiful easy care fern for years to come.

Size & Details

This offering includes 3 individual Christmas Fern bare root plants, ready for immediate planting upon arrival. Each bare root plant consists of a healthy root system and dormant crown, ensuring a strong start in your garden. When mature, the Polystichum Acrostichoides typically reaches a height of 1-2 feet with a similar spread, forming an attractive clump. Its growth rate is moderate, establishing itself well within the first year and gradually filling out to its mature size over several seasons. The fronds are leathery, dark green, and lance-shaped, contributing to its distinctive appearance. Being an evergreen fern, it provides consistent coverage and beauty. Plant these bare roots in your desired shade garden fern location, providing ample space for their mature size.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The Christmas Fern bare root typically grows to a height of 1-2 feet and spreads about 1-2 feet wide, forming an attractive, dense clump.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Polystichum Acrostichoides is primarily an outdoor plant, ideal for creating a beautiful shade garden fern in temperate climates. It is not generally grown as a houseplant.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This fern thrives in partial to full shade. It should be protected from direct, intense afternoon sun, which can scorch its fronds.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your order will include 3 Christmas Fern bare root plants, meaning they will arrive dormant without soil or foliage, ready for planting. This method ensures robust plant health and easy establishment.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Christmas Fern is considered an easy care fern. Once established, it requires minimal maintenance, making it suitable for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.
• Q: When is the best time to plant the bare roots? A: The best time to plant Christmas Fern bare root plants is in early spring or fall when the temperatures are mild, allowing the roots to establish before extreme heat or cold.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The Christmas Fern is very winter hardy, typically thriving in USDA Zones 3-9, and will maintain its evergreen foliage through cold temperatures.
• Q: What kind of soil does this fern prefer? A: It prefers moist, acidic, humus-rich, and well-draining soil. Amending your soil with compost or leaf mold will provide ideal growing conditions for this evergreen fern.
• Q: Is the Christmas Fern deer resistant? A: Yes, the Polystichum Acrostichoides is known to be highly deer resistant, making it a good choice for gardens in areas where deer are a concern.
• Q: How quickly will my bare root ferns grow? A: After planting, the bare roots will begin to sprout new fronds within a few weeks. They will establish a strong root system in the first year and gradually reach their mature size over a few growing seasons, becoming a beautiful shade garden fern.