Holly Fern

Holly Fern brings bold evergreen texture to the shade garden with glossy, leathery leaflets shaped a little like holly leaves. Its dense arching clump looks polished beneath trees, beside shaded foundations, or along woodland paths. This heat- and humidity-tolerant fern is well suited to protected Zone 8b landscapes with moist, well-drained soil. Available for local pickup from Towns Edge Nursery.

Plant details

• Botanical name: Cyrtomium falcatum
• Light: Partial shade to deep shade
• USDA zones: 7-10
• Mature size: 18-24 in tall x 2-3 ft wide
• Foliage: Evergreen in mild climates, with coarse glossy dark-green fronds and holly-like leaflets
• Flower or feature: Non-flowering fern valued for bold year-round foliage
• Bloom season: No flowers; spores form beneath mature fronds
• Water: Moderate; prefers moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil
• Growth habit: Dense, arching clump
• Landscape uses: Shade garden, woodland border, slope, path edging, mass planting, and container
• Deer tolerance: Seldom damaged by deer

South Carolina garden note: Holly Fern handles Southern heat well when its roots stay cool and its foliage is protected from strong afternoon sun.