Braum's Holly Fern Polystichum braunii
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Polystichum braunii ssp. purshii
- Polystichum braunii var. purshii
- Phonetic Spelling
- pol-IS-tick-um BRAUN-ee-eye
- Description
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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:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Dense
- Growth Rate:
- 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 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
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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:
- 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.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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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
