Audubon® Native Christmas Fern

Deck the halls with boughs of Christmas Fern! Or, better yet, leave the lush greenery in your garden to provide cheer throughout the year. Christmas Fern is a joyful Spirit that gets its name from the fact that its evergreen foliage is present at Christmastime. More imaginative people believe it gets its name from its L-shaped leaflets, which look like tiny green Christmas stockings. In any case, this is an enchanting plant to have in the garden at any time of year. Use it in natural woodland plantings and shady formal borders alike. Well behaved and easy to grow.

Christmas Fern brings fresh greenery to the forest floor all over the eastern United States, from Iowa to East Texas and east to Maine and Florida. It is a fairly common Fern, especially where the soil is rather alkaline. It likes well-drained—even rocky—soil, and is more tolerant of dry conditions than many other Ferns, once established. This is a small, compact species that doesn’t spread very quickly. In rural areas, the young fiddleheads may serve as forage for grouse and wild turkeys. Ground-nesting birds like ovenbirds and veeries may occasionally nest among Christmas Ferns.

Got deer? Ferns are usually a safe bet where deer are a problem. They provide needed greenery in the shady woodland garden spaces where deer may come looking for a meal, but deer tend to leave them alone. Christmas Fern is troubled by few pests of any kind and is relatively carefree.

Audubon is devoted to protecting birds and the places they need, while Bower & Branch is devoted to the growth of true native trees and plants–no cultivars or hybrids. Together, we strive to unite communities in conservation and inspire individuals to cultivate a better world for birds starting in their own backyards, balconies, or patios. By guiding and recommending trees and plants truly native and beneficial to your region, we can really start to make a difference.

What is the definition of Native?

“In the United States, a native plant is defined as one that was naturally found in a particular area before European colonization. Native plants are the foundation of a region’s biodiversity, providing essential food sources and shelter for birds, especially those threatened by the changing climate. Since native plants are adapted to local precipitation and soil conditions, they generally require less upkeep, therefore helping the environment and saving you time, water, and money.” – The National Audubon Society

Learn how you can help birds in your home and community through Audubon’s Plants for Birds program.

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