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Polystichum braunii

Previously known as:

  • Polystichum braunii ssp. purshii
  • Polystichum braunii var. purshii
Phonetic Spelling
pol-IS-tick-um BRAUN-ee-eye
Description

Polystichum braunii, commonly called Braum's Holly Fern is a creeping, crown forming rhizome.  It prefers moist, humus rich soil but tolerates dry soil after established.  It also prefers cool temperatures. This plant is seldom damaged by deer.

This fern has a wide arching vase of lustrous, bipinnate dark green, leathery fronds.  The blade tapers to the base.  It has 20 to 40 pairs of closely spaced pinna and 16 to 18 pairs of closely spaced, bristle-toothed, oblong or ovate pinnules.  The lower pinnules hug the rachis. The stipe, rachis, and fiddlehead have dense covering of silvery scales, that when mature turn brown.

Crown rot is possible in poorly drained soil.

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:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#semi-evergreen#shade garden#fern#winter interest#rabbit resistant#deer resistant#frost tolerant#border planting#wildflower#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#semi-evergreen#shade garden#fern#winter interest#rabbit resistant#deer resistant#frost tolerant#border planting#wildflower#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Polystichum
    Species:
    braunii
    Family:
    Polypodiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Temp. Northern Hemisphere
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Heavy shade, Deer
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 8 in. - 2 ft. 4 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 8 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Fern
    Herb
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Dense
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
  • 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)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 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:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Rough
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Fronds
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Other/more complex
    Leaf Shape:
    Rhomboidal
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Wide arching vase of lustrous, bipinnate dark green, leathery fronds. The blade tapers to base. It has 20 to 40 pairs of closely spaced pinna and 16 to 18 pairs of closely spaced, bristle-toothed, oblong or ovate pinnules. The lower pinnules hug the rachis. The stipe, rachis, and fiddlehead have a dense covering of silvery hairs.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Rock Garden
    Shade Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Heavy Shade
    Rabbits