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Asplenium trichomanes

Rock Fern

Plant Type:

FERNS

Asplenium trichomanes - A beautiful virtually evergreen little fern that enjoys limestone / basalt / sandstone outcroppings often finding a foothold in the cracks of mossy boulders where it slowly spreads creating its own little, fragile Eden in these fraught, exposed environs under hardwood forest canopy. When I think of the north temperate rain forest I envision ferns and mosses on cool, wet boulder; the Maidenhair Spleenwort fits that picture well. Indeed, we had one that slowly increased in number in an east facing stone wall encrusted with lichen and moss. We have delighted in it. Elongated rounded lobes with slightly scalloped edging set opposite to sub-opposite on black wiry stems, the frond measuring up to 8 inches tall. "Trichomanes", derived from Ancient Greek, likely translates to "hair of the head". This ubiquitous fern occurs globally and has pockets on every continent expect Antartica. We've seen cold hardiness listed to USDA zone 5; however, considering its range into the far north we think this incorrect. Dave's Garden lists Asplenium trichomanes as hardy to zone 2; we think this closer to fact. Might there be provenance variability? Certainly feasible. Established pot grown from division.


Height:

8 in

Spread:

8 in

Characteristics and Attributes for Asplenium trichomanes

Season of Interest (Foliage)

  • Spring / Summer / Autumn / into Winter

Light

  • Shade
  • Dappled Shade

Attributes

  • Collector Plant
  • Drought Tolerant
  • Woodland
  • Greenhouse / Alpine House
  • Rock Garden

Growth Rate in the Garden

  • Slow

Propagated By

  • Offset