{"title":"Polystichum","description":"\u003cp\u003eTough, glossy evergreen ferns, including the native Christmas fern. Reliable texture year-round in shade.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"polystichum-polyblepharum-tassel-fern","title":"Polystichum polyblepharum","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003ePolystichum polyblepharum\u003c\/em\u003e: Glossy Evergreen Fronds With Flipped Tips\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGlossy, evergreen fronds with new tips that flop over like little tassels on a graduation cap. This fern is ready to walk the stage. HONOURS IN SHADE STUDIES.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Characteristics:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003ePolystichum polyblepharum\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Japanese Tassel Fern\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 45–60 cm (18–24 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e 45–60 cm (18–24 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e None; ferns reproduce by spores\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Glossy, dark green, evergreen fronds with overlapping leaflets on brown, scaly stems; new fronds have drooping \"tassel\" tips\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evergreen\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere to Plant:\u003c\/strong\u003e Its tidy shape and shine make it a natural for the front of a shady border, a woodland path or a shaded container. Plant it in groups for a polished look under trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompanion Plants:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use the glossy fronds of tassel fern in a moist, shady bed with pink heuchera, a gold hosta and a tall cinnamon fern. \u003cem\u003eHeuchera 'Paris'\u003c\/em\u003e adds deep rose-pink bells at 25 cm from May to August. \u003cem\u003eHosta 'Stained Glass'\u003c\/em\u003e brings bright gold leaves with green edges at 40 to 50 cm. \u003cem\u003eOsmundastrum cinnamomeum\u003c\/em\u003e rises behind at 90 to 150 cm with cinnamon fern fronds. \u003cem\u003eLiriope 'Big Blue'\u003c\/em\u003e edges the front with grass-like leaves and violet spikes at 30 to 45 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Care:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant in part to full shade in consistently moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. Good drainage matters, because a soggy crown can rot. Add compost to heavy clay, and mulch to keep the roots cool. Water during dry spells. It's rated to zone 5, so in colder parts of our region choose a sheltered spot out of drying winter wind, and add a loose mulch of leaves over the crown in late fall. Don't cut it back in fall; in early spring, trim off any fronds that winter has damaged before new growth starts. It grows slowly and rarely needs dividing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Japanese tassel fern is native to the shaded forests of Japan and South Korea. The species name \u003cem\u003epolyblepharum\u003c\/em\u003e comes from Greek for \"many eyelashes,\" a reference to the bristly scales on its stems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinal Thoughts:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deer resistant, low maintenance and green all year. Tuck it near the front walk so you can admire the tassels. CLASS OF EVERY YEAR.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ferns","offers":[{"title":"1 Gallon Pot \/ 5","offer_id":49891432857878,"sku":"POLYTAF01","price":27.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0870\/5366\/4534\/files\/Polystichumpolyblepharum_TasselFern_2ef4bee3-2957-4631-bdde-d685871bd58c.png?v=1793716258"},{"product_id":"polystichum-acrostichoides-christmas-fern","title":"Polystichum acrostichoides","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003ePolystichum acrostichoides\u003c\/em\u003e: Evergreen Fronds Still Green at Christmas\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDeep, glossy green fronds that stay put all winter while everything else in the shade bed packs up and leaves. This native fern is the one decoration you NEVER HAVE TO TAKE DOWN.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Characteristics:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003ePolystichum acrostichoides\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Christmas Fern\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 30–60 cm (1–2 ft)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpread:\u003c\/strong\u003e 45–60 cm (18–24 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e None; ferns reproduce by spores, carried on the undersides of the frond tips\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evergreen, leathery, lance-shaped fronds of deep glossy green; silvery fiddleheads in spring\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evergreen, tolerates dry shade once established\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere to Plant:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant it under trees, on shady slopes, along woodland paths or anywhere you want year-round green at ground level. Its roots help hold soil on banks, and it copes with dry shade once settled.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompanion Plants:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant Christmas fern in a shady native woodland bed where its evergreen fronds sit among spring wildflowers. \u003cem\u003eAsarum canadense\u003c\/em\u003e carpets the front at 10 to 15 cm with heart-shaped native leaves. \u003cem\u003eUvularia grandiflora\u003c\/em\u003e opens nodding yellow bellwort at 30 to 45 cm in April and May. \u003cem\u003eLigularia 'Othello'\u003c\/em\u003e adds golden-orange daisies over purple-backed leaves at 90 to 120 cm from July to September. \u003cem\u003eCarex rosea\u003c\/em\u003e fills in with a fine native sedge at 30 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Care:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant in part to full shade in well-drained, humus-rich soil. It prefers slightly acidic conditions and handles rocky or sandy ground. Keep it watered through the first season; after that it copes with dry shade better than most ferns. Avoid soggy spots, since wet soil can rot the crown. No cutting back is needed in fall. In early spring, before the new fiddleheads unroll, snip off old fronds that look tattered. The clump grows slowly wider over time. Divide in spring if you want more plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Christmas fern is native to eastern North America, from southern Canada, including Ontario and Quebec, south to northeastern Mexico. The common name comes from its fronds staying green through the holidays, and many people think each leaflet looks like a tiny Christmas stocking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinal Thoughts:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dry shade, deer, total neglect? It's handled worse at the in-laws. Plant a few under the maples. EVERGREEN AND OVER IT.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ferns","offers":[{"title":"1 Gallon Pot \/ 4","offer_id":49891432825110,"sku":"POLYCHF01","price":27.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Tray of 15 Plants (10cm Pots) \/ 4","offer_id":67879557988630,"sku":"POLYCHF10","price":204.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0870\/5366\/4534\/files\/Polystichumacrostichoides_ChristmasFern.png?v=1744733306"}],"url":"https:\/\/blacksheepperennials.com\/collections\/polystichum.oembed","provider":"Black Sheep Perennials","version":"1.0","type":"link"}