Christmas fern

Christmas fern is the native evergreen fern of Upstate woods, and it is the one still green in December, which is how it got its name. Leathery, glossy fronds 1 to 2 feet long rise in a loose fountain, silver fiddleheads come up in spring, and it stands more drought than most ferns once its roots are in. Deer, rabbits and pests leave it alone. Those are exactly the reasons it suits a porch pot.

In the Upstate

It grows wild throughout South Carolina and is hardy well past anything Greenville sees, in the ground or in a pot. Plant in fall or early spring. It handles summer in shade, and Clemson notes it tolerates a drought once established. The honest bit: by late winter the old fronds lie flat and look tired, and the taller fertile fronds die back every year. That is normal, and new growth replaces them in spring.

In a container

In a planter it is a filler with some height, 12 to 24 inches, and it is the evergreen that keeps a shade pot from going empty in January. It spreads very slowly, so a single plant holds its spot for years. Water when the top inch of mix is dry, about twice a week in summer shade, less in winter. It does not need swapping mid-season.

Care

Water for steady moisture and use a well-drained, organic mix. Feed lightly, once in spring after new growth starts, or not at all, because ferns burn easily from too much fertilizer. Cut the flattened old fronds as the new fiddleheads emerge, and divide every three to five years if you want more plants. The one thing that kills it is crown rot from wet, poorly drained soil, most often in winter. Follow Missouri Botanical Garden’s advice and set the rhizome at a slight angle so water sheds away from the crown.