A Grower Perspective

Here we have an evergreen fern with lacy, delicate fronds that emerge from the base and fan out from a central rosette. It is a low-maintenance plant that asks very little from you: full shade and in moist, well-drained soil. If you like a neat appearance, you can cut the dead fronds in the early spring, or, if you like a rustic, woodland look, you can leave them for natural mulch.

Evergreen plants are an important part of the winter landscape, and this fern will remain fresh and beautiful long after your perennials have died back. It will grow about 32 inches tall, which is the mature length of the fronds. It makes a bright backdrop for floral arrangements. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this fern is the emerging fronds. They sprout up in the spring and unfurl with the tips hanging down, giving the plant the appearance that it is festooned with tassels.