Plant Description
The Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) is a native New Jersey plant celebrated for its leathery, glossy fronds that stay green year-round, even through the holiday season—hence its name. The fronds, growing 1 to 2 feet long in clusters from a crownless rootstock, create a medium to coarse texture. Taller, fertile fronds and silvery fiddleheads that emerge in spring add to its visual appeal (Jersey-Friendly Yards).
Thriving in cool, moist, well-drained soil with ample shade, this clumping fern is easy to establish and is perfect as an evergreen border or accent plant. Unlike some ferns that spread continuously, the Christmas fern grows in distinct clumps, making it ideal for erosion control on slopes or along stream banks (Jersey-Friendly Yards).
