alpine water fern
© Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks
© Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks
This wonderful little evergreen fern is a top rate garden plant. Its new fronds emerge in the spring copper red and gradually fade to rich green. It slowly creeps to fill cracks and crevices between paving stones or rockery walls. It can also be used as a small-scale groundcover. Plant it under shrubs or trees with high branches, so that it gets some light for the best spring color.
Plant Type: fern
Growth Habit: spreading
Foliage Type: evergreen
Plant Height (10-year): 0 ft. 6 in. (0.15 meters)
Plant Width/Spread (10-year): 5 ft. 0 in. (1.52 meters)
Hardiness: USDA Zones 7 to 10
Flower Color: none
Sun/Light Exposure: light to dappled shade
Water Requirements: occasional
Seasonal Interest: coppery red spring foliage
Great Plant Combinations:
Great Color Contrasts: gold, purple, silver
Great Color Partners: bronze, burgundy
Blechnum penna-marina grows best in moist to well-drained soil and will tolerate sandy soils or clay. Provide light to dappled shade and occasional watering during dry weather. It can be grown full sun with regular watering in summer and protection from hot locations. Cut it to the ground in late winter to gain the full effect of the colorful spring growth.
Text and photos ©2020 Great Plant Picks/Elisabeth Carey Miller Garden except where otherwise noted
Funded by the Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation, The Seattle Times, and Individual Donors
Administered by the Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden