The Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) carpets the ground at this typical forest site. It is a non-flowering plant that grows to a height of two to three feet. It can grow in colonies, but usually grows in groups of two to three plants.
The foliage for this native woodland plant has four-inch wide, leathery, lance-shaped, arching, deep rich green tapering fronds or leaves that grow in bouquet-like clusters cascading from a central rootstock. The fertile leaves are taller, and more rigid and erect. In winter, the fertile leaves wither, while the sterile ones stay evergreen though often pushed over by the frost and snow. Twenty to forty leaflets adorn each leaf stem. They are shiney green, lance-shaped and short-stemmed.
The plant can tolerate more sun than some other ferns if it is provided with adequate soil moisture. However, best growth will occur in shade or partial shade. It is easy to grow almost anywhere, and can thrive when other plants fail. It is commonly found on rocky, shaded slopes, along wooded streambanks, in ravines, beside stone walls, in shaded or semi-open spaces, and sometimes even in swamps. It can tolerate rocky or sandy soil.
The fronds have been used in holiday decorations since the arrival of the first early settlers. They are often used in yuletide decorations because the leaves stay green all year round. The Christmas fern gets its name from folklore that says if you hold the eared leaflets a certain way, they look like a Christmas stocking.
Take a moment to enjoy some of the other gifts natural has to offer at this site. If you step back a little, you can see a small Tulip Poplar to the right. With your back to this site you can see the lacey leaves of the Elm Tree.
http://hrgardening.com/perennials/98dec2.htm
http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/modop/00001146.html
http://www.k12.de.us/warner/chrfern.htm