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Cystopteris protrusa

Phonetic Spelling
sis-TOP-ter-is pro-TROO-sah
Description

A small, short, airy deciduous fern with abundant creeping rhizomes.  It is easy to grow.  The fronds have central stems that easily break, hence the common name. They may turn brown in mid-summer but new fronds are produced. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious insect or disease problems.

VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.

Profile Video:
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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#easy to grow#shade garden#fern#rabbit resistant#NC native#airy#deer resistant#native garden#rock garden#heavy shade tolerant#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#easy to grow#shade garden#fern#rabbit resistant#NC native#airy#deer resistant#native garden#rock garden#heavy shade tolerant#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Cystopteris
    Species:
    protrusa
    Family:
    Aspleniaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Root Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    South East Canada to U.S.A
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Heavy Shade,Rabbits and deer
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Fern
    Native Plant
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Creeping
    Erect
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    12 inches-3 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Fronds
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Long, erect fronds; bipinnate pinnatified to tripinnate pinnatified.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Heavy Shade
    Rabbits