Christmas Fern is one of the most common and easily identified native ferns of eastern North American forests, named for the fact that its evergreen fronds were traditionally collected for holiday decorations. Growing in neat, vase-shaped clumps 1–2 feet tall, it bears glossy, dark-green fronds that remain green and attractive through winter. Each leaflet has a small ear-like projection at the base resembling a Christmas stocking. Christmas Fern is one of the best shade-tolerant native groundcovers for gardens.
Best time to see a Christmas Fern
The best time to see a Christmas Fern is March–July, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 97,473 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Christmas Fern? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
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