1. GreenLarry

    GreenLarry Active Member 10 Years

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    Wow this is such an extensive site, hope this is in the right place!

    This is a fern I picked up for the princely sum of 99p a couple of days ago. There were a few others to choose from but i doubted their hardiness. This one is hardy to -15C so it should be fine.
    It is Polystichum polyphlebarum or Japanese Tassel Fern, and has very shiny fronds that almost look like theyre made of plastic!
    Its also evergreen, which I wasnt expecting! I know there are evergreen ferns of course, but it made me wonder if there any evergreens native to Britain.
    Anyway heres my new fern, which has perked up since I planted it out!
     

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  2. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Yep, quite a few evergreen ferns native here:
    Polystichum aculeatum
    Polystichum setiferum
    Polystichum lonchitis
    Dryopteris affinis
    Dryopteris filix-mas (semi-evergreen)
    Asplenium (all 11 native species evergreen; note all are small plants, too)
    Blechnum spicant
     
  3. GreenLarry

    GreenLarry Active Member 10 Years

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    Quite a few there,and I didn't realise any of the Dryopteris clan were! The only D. i can find round here is D.dilatata-Broad Buckler Fern
     
  4. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Even that is semi-evergreen - the fronds often stay partly green through the winter, though looking rather battered and usually flat on the ground by late winter.
     
  5. GreenLarry

    GreenLarry Active Member 10 Years

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    I have a couple of those in my garden now too-they turned up in with a houseplant as tiny sporelings and eventually grew into ferns
    [​IMG]
     
  6. Debby

    Debby Active Member 10 Years

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    I like to cut off the ratty old fern fronds in late winter to be able to watch the tight fists of the new fronds in the plant's centre open and grow.
     
  7. GreenLarry

    GreenLarry Active Member 10 Years

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    re:the ferns shiny fronds; someone asked the reason they are so shiny,and if they help preserve water,but I don't think thats the case. I'm wondering what their natural habitat is.
     

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