Dragon's tail fern - spleenwort

[Chris_W]

While visiting one of our fern plug suppliers we learned about this cool looking spleenwort, that I didn't even realize should be hardy to zone 5, and some references even say zone 4! This is Asplenium x ebenoides, a hybrid fern that is commonly called dragon's tail fern or Scott's spleenwort. Like other types of Asplenium this does best with well-draining, neutral to alkaline conditions, but otherwise should be easy to grow though maybe a bit slow. It doesn't like heavy soil and may not do well if the soil is too acidic. We don't have that problem here because our soil has a high pH (being in Cement City, Michigan).

I'm excited to start growing these this summer and hope to offer them by mail in 2015.

[boops]

I like that one Chris, if you sell it next year-I'd get one or two. I lost 3 ferns this winter, a Dixie Wood Fern, A tassel fern and surprisingly a Holly Fern. Don't know why maybe the constant freeze and thaw weather just did them in.

[NancyL]

I love that fern also. I will order it if offered as I am trying to add more deer and vole resistant stuff with the Hostas. We have a lot of Oaks so their soil requirement should work. Are they considered a native cultivar? I also lost a fern or 2 last winter, Tassel Fern was the main one. I think the very harsh winter was part of it. Our MG group got a large number of Korean Rock ferns that are supposed to marginal in our area from a Home Show exhibit - they went from show ready to a cold drafty barn for three weeks when the temps dropped to 10. They all came through great, some ferns are really tough!

[Chris_W]

We hope to offer it next year if they grow good for us.

The only ferns I lost were ones that were in spots that didn't drain that great so when the huge snow cover started to melt the frozen ground held water for a long time and killed some. We actually had some March rains on top of a couple feet of snow which then froze solid so I actually was expecting even more loses than we had.

I had one variety of Hart's Tongue fern that died in a low area but the regular Hart's Tongue all survived in a partially raised bed. My Dixie Wood Fern also are grown in very dry shade as are my Holly Ferns. My Alaska Shield Fern does best in dry conditions too and I lost some that were too wet this spring but the ones on the hill are fine.

Thanks for checking this out

Chris