Chinese Lace Fern Selaginella braunii
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Selaginella pellascens
- Phonetic Spelling
- sel-ah-gih-NEL-ah BRAWN-ee-eye
- Description
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Arborvitae fern, though it produces spores is not a true fern but a prehistoric plant called a club moss in the Selaginellaceae family native to south China.
It is a matting groundcover that quickly shades out weeds. It grows in partial shade to shade, in well-drained, organically enriched soil. Though it likes shady, moist spots, it does not withstand standing water.
It has thick, scaly leaves that resemble arborvitae or cedar. The clumps can be divided any time of year or cutting root easily in damp soil. After a harsh winter, if fronds appear ragged, cut it back, apply an all-purpose slow-release fertilizer, and new growth will appear quickly.
It is an easy plant to grow and looks great forming a skirt around taller plants in containers and hanging baskets. Needs good drainage when grown in containers. Small varieties are great in terrariums.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Selaginella
- Species:
- braunii
- Family:
- Selaginellaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy shade, Deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- 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 Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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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:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green, scaly, leathery frond-like, erect, branched leaves that look like Cedar or Arborvitae. The margins are slightly transparent.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Erect and highly branched.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Fairy Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
