Sichuan Lace Onychium japonicum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- oh-NIK-ee-um juh-PON-ih-kum
- Description
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Carrot Fern is a clump-forming, perennial, deciduous fern with wiry black stems holding upright the highly divided lacy fronds that resemble a carrot top and give the plant its common name. It is a native of Asia and thrives in the deep shade of wooded areas. It can reach a height and width of 18 inches, but may take 5 to 10 years to attain these dimensions.
Carrot Fern does best in moist, well-drained, organically rich soil in partial shade. It is not particularly hardy and should be sited in a sheltered location. Alternatively, it can be grown in a container and taken indoors during colder winter temperatures.
Carrot Fern is a rhizomatous geophyte, meaning that it stores energy in an underground stem (rhizome) and has its growing points underground (geophyte).
Maintenance should include removing dead fronds.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
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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- 'Sichuan Lace'
Lacy dark green thrives dappled rather than deep shade - 'Waterfall Trail'
Full shade tolerant.
- 'Sichuan Lace'
- 'Sichuan Lace', 'Waterfall Trail'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Sichuan Lace'
Lacy dark green thrives dappled rather than deep shade - 'Waterfall Trail'
Full shade tolerant.
- 'Sichuan Lace'
- 'Sichuan Lace', 'Waterfall Trail'
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Onychium
- Species:
- japonicum
- Family:
- Pteridaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and eastern China, Phillipines and Viet Nam.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy shade, Deer
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Creeping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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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 Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Feathery fronds comprising leaflets divided up to three times.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Black
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Wiry, black stems bearing upright to arching, feathery-looking fronds.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
