FoliageChristmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) is a medium-growing perennial, hardy in USDA zones 3-9, that matures to about 1-2 ft × 1-2 ft. It does best in part shade and full shade with low water needs in well-drained and moist soil. It attracts songbirds, stands up well to deer, fire and rabbits.
- USDA zones
- 3-9
- Sun
- Part shade, Full shade
- Water
- Low
- Mature size
- 1-2 ft × 1-2 ft
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist
- Attracts
- Songbirds
- Tough against
- Deer, Fire, Rabbits
- Native to
- Eastern North America
In the landscape
Data sources
Freeze survival
Will it survive your winters?
Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Christmas Fern is hardy to about -40°F (estimated from USDA zone 3), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
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