Upside-down Fern Arachniodes standishii
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- a-rak-nee-OH-dees stan-DISH-she-eye
- Description
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Upside-down fern is a shade-loving herbaceous perennial in the Polypody family (Polypodiaceae). It is native to China, Japan, and Korea.
This plant needs partial to deep shade in evenly moist soil with neutral to acid pH. It grows 1.5 to 2 feet in height and spreads 1 to 4 feet wide. It is semi-evergreen.
Its common name describes the unusual feature of the frond: the stipe twists so that the top surface of the frond faces down. It grows from slow-creeping rhizomes.
The Upside-down fern is highly prized for its texture and appearance. It can be grown in containers, in a shade or rock garden, as a specimen plant, and in woodlands.
VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Arachniodes
- Species:
- standishii
- Family:
- Polypodiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China, Japan, Korea
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- heavy shade, deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Creeping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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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 pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. This plant reproduces via spores.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- This plant has delicate, lacy, arching fronds that give it an upside-down appearance.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Wet Soil
