FLOWERING FERN

Anemia mexicana – It is worth trying this fern in a zone 8 in a sheltered spot in the garden or else this is a beautiful houseplant.

SUBSTRATE & WATERING

Keep evenly moist.

This is the only fern that seems to have true flower stems, almost an astilbe!

The Mexican flowering fern (Anemia mexicana) is, like all Anemias, unusual in bearing two types of fronds, the sterile and fertile. The somewhat leathery and slightly hairy sterile fronds look teasingly like Cyrtomium. The fertile fronds are held upright and could pass for Astilbes, hence “flowering”. While obviously a native of Mexico this species is also found very locally on lightly shaded limestone in Texas. It is evergreen, drought tolerant and reputed to be deer-resistant. Try it in Zone 8 (with protection) to Zone 11.

If you plant this fern as a solitary plant, its characteristics will look good

Available soon in our webshop.

Richard Hayward

The plant hunter

Richard Hayward, a famous British fern collector, has enjoyed ferns ever since he encountered them as a boy scout in South Wales and took them to London as souvenirs. After his retirement he owned a small fern farm in North Wales. He still exchanges spores and plants of rare species with other fern enthusiasts.

"I love ferns because of their diversity in shape, foliage, colour and beauty and their enormous urge to survive."

Related

YUNNAN HOLLY FERN

Polystichum yunnanense – This fern grows wonderfully without significant attention, even under dry conditions for a while. This rare fern asks to be discovered by more

WINE AND LIME FERN

Athyrium otophorum ‘Okanum’ – This lovely deer-resistant evergreen fern is so unique that it is actually recognizable from a distance. Anyone that observes Wine and Lime

SIEBOLD’S WOOD FERN

Dryopteris sieboldii – This is a most unusual fern with magnificent and oddly shaped fronds that mark it out as quite distinct from any other Dryopteris.

KOREAN MOUNTAIN FERN

Dryopteris sichotensis – A large Asian forest fern with dark scales and strong, flat growing fronds. Occurs in the undergrowth of forests, in the highlands on

GROOVY LACE FERN

Lastreopsis microsora – This fern has been used for years as bedding plant in southern California, the creeping rhizome is moderately slow-growing and easy to control.

JAPANESE WOOD FERN

Dryopteris koidzumiana – This unique fern loves warmth, so patience is required for it to start growing. But once it does, new fronds emerge with their