Christmas Fern Christmas ferns are asymmetrical with a fine texture and has a moderately dense crown. It typically grows in a fountain-like clump to 2' tall and features leathery, lance-shaped, evergreen (green at Christmas time as the common name suggests) fronds. These plants serve as hosts for butterfly larvae. The Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides, occurs in both dry and moist wooded slopes, moist banks and ravines. This fern does not spread but the clumps increase in size over time. Sori appear on the undersides of the pinnae only at the ends (last 1/3) of the fronds. The evergreen fronds provide good winter interest for the landscape.

Christmas Fern Crosiers (young fiddleheads) in spring are silvery and scaled. Sori appear on the undersides of the pinnae only at the ends (last 1/3) of the fronds. Christmas ferns are asymmetrical with a fine texture and has a moderately dense crown. Stocking shape of the pinnae also suggests Christmas. The Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides, occurs in both dry and moist wooded slopes, moist banks and ravines.

Cinnamon Fern The yellowish-green sterile fronds remain attractive throughout the summer and turn yellow in autumn. The common name of Cinnamon ferns is in reference to the cinnamon colored fibers found near the fronds base. Osumunda fiber used in the potting of orchids comes from the roots of these ferns. Plant them in a loamy woodland soil in some shade to mimic the natural environment. Cinnamon ferns do not have flowers or blooms. This plant tolerates flooding and will grow in wet submerged soils.

Royal Fern The broad fronds have large, well-separated pinnae (leaflets) which give this fern an almost pea-family appearance. The Royal Fern, Osmunda regalis, is a tall, deciduous fern which usually occurs on moist bluffs and ledges and along streams (sometimes growing in the water). The Royal Fern is an excellent selection for wet areas along ponds, streams, water gardens or in bogs. Fronds typically turn yellow to brown in autumn. Spores are located in brown, tassel-like, fertile clusters at the tips of the fronds, thus giving rise to the additional common name of flowering fern for this plant.