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Woodwardia orientalis
Chain Fern
| Their common name comes from the chainlike pattern that embosses the graceful leathery fronds. Hardy and aggressive, they rival the tree ferns in size -- some reaching 9 feet -- but stay low, spreading by hairy rhizomes. They love wet soil and high humidity, and are happiest at the water's edge. Massed along a bank or border, they are especially lovely when the young fronds wear sunrise hues of red, pink, and yellow. Choose a location where their spreading will not overwhelm neighboring plants. Provide loose, fertile soil with a neutral to acid pH. Do not bury the creeping rhizomes. Most like shade, though Woodwardia virginica grows in full sun. Night temperatures should stay above 45º to 55º F. They grow in spurts, so watch for new fronds, then feed with diluted liquid fertilizer. Divide clumps or grow from plantlets. Some, like Woodwardia radicans and Woodwardia unigemmata, form a plantlet at each frond tip. Anchor the tip until the new fern roots, or detach it to root in a pot. |
Fronds grow 1 to 3 feet long, 8 to 15 inches wide. Grow new ferns from the many tiny plantlets that form on the fronds' upper surfaces.
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Attributes - Woodwardia orientalis
Plant Type: Fern
Foliage: Evergreen
Height: 1 ft. to 3 ft. 6 in.
Width: 7 ft.
Sunlight: Partial Sun, Shade
Climate: Zones 10, 11
Notes: Thrives in Hot Climates, Wet Soil. Container Plants, Low Maintenance.
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