Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
The Christmas Fern is a hardy, evergreen perennial native to the moist woodlands of eastern North America. It is beloved for its fountain-like clumps of glossy, leathery, deep green fronds that retain their color even through the winter months. Give it low to medium indirect light, higher humidity, and steady moisture in a planter with drainage holes.
Light
Low
Water
Moderate
Difficulty
Easy
Humidity
High
Pet Friendly
Polystichum acrostichoides is non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, making it an excellent choice for pet owners.
Full care guide
Christmas Fern Care
Grow Polystichum acrostichoides indoors with soft light, steady moisture, and enough humidity to keep the leathery evergreen fronds glossy.
Read the guideCare Notes
Full guide →Light
This fern thrives in low to medium indirect light. It is naturally adapted to forest floors, so avoid direct sunlight, which will scorch and bleach the fronds.
Water
Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Water when the surface of the soil just begins to feel dry to the touch. Use a planter with drainage holes to prevent crown rot.
Humidity and Temperature
Like most ferns, it enjoys high humidity. Mist the fronds regularly, use a pebble tray, or place it near a humidifier, especially in winter when indoor air is dry.
Soil and Planter
Use a potting mix that is rich in organic matter and well-draining, such as a mix containing peat moss or leaf mold with perlite.
Maintenance
In early spring, you may trim back old or tattered fronds from the previous year. New ‘fiddleheads’ will emerge from the center of the clump and unfurl as the weather warms.
Seasonal Care
If grown outdoors, the fronds may lay flat on the ground in winter. This is a natural protection mechanism against the weight of snow. Indoors, keep away from heating vents.
Common Issues
Brown edges often point to dry soil or low humidity. Yellowing can follow waterlogged soil, so check moisture and drainage before watering again.
In-Depth Care & Growth
Feeding & Soil
Fertilizer
Balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at half-strength
Soil
Moist, well-drained, acidic to neutral soil rich in humus.
Physical Attributes
Mature Size
1-2 feet tall and 2 feet wide
Growth Rate
Moderate
Propagation
Division of mature clumps in early spring or via spores.
Common Varieties
Primarily grown as the straight species; distinct cultivars are uncommon in the trade.
The Christmas Fern has leathery, lance-shaped dark green fronds composed of serrated leaflets that each features a distinctive, stocking-shaped lobe at the base.