Fortune’s Holly Fern
No woodland garden is complete without the shade-loving icon that is Fortune’s Holly Fern! Botanically referenced as Cyrtomium fortunei, the Fortune’s Holly Fern is a unique specimen with thick pale green leaves that grow widely divided along dark stems.Â
Some key advantages of growing Fortune’s Holly Fern in your garden include a low-maintenance care regimen, deer-resistant foliage, and the ability to grow well in mixed planters and containers. An added bonus of Fortune’s Holly Fern is it’s semi-evergreen foliage. In mild winter climates this plant will actually keep its vibrant green foliage while many other ferns drop their leaves for the winter.Â
Hardy to USDA zones 5-10, this Holly Fern prefers conditions of part shade to full shade, as too much sun can bleach the fronds. On average, the Fortune’s Holly fern reaches a mature height and width between 12 and 24 inches. We recommend using this fern in woodland areas, shade borders, rock gardens, and mixed-shaded flower beds.Â