Autumn fern vs Christmas fern
Two of the few ferns that stay green all winter. Christmas fern is the native of eastern woods: leathery, dark green, clump-forming, and one of the best ferns for dry shade. Autumn fern comes from East Asia and is grown for its new fronds, which unfurl coppery red in spring before turning glossy green; it does best in soil that stays moist, and has begun to spread into woods in parts of the Southeast.
 Autumn fernDryopteris erythrosora |  Christmas fernPolystichum acrostichoides | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 22 in tall, 24 in wide | 20 in tall, 20 in wide |
| Plant | 18 in apart | 18 in apart |
| Zones | 5 to 9 | 3 to 9 |
| Light | Part shade to shade | Part shade to shade |
| Soil | Evenly moist, rich fertility | Well-drained, average fertility |
| Flowers | None | None |
| Leaves | Medium, evergreen | Medium, evergreen |
| Job in a bed | Drift | Drift |
| Pets | No toxicity recorded | No toxicity recorded |
| Deer | Resistant | Resistant |
| Native | No | Yes |
| Spread | Moderate risk | Low risk |
Rows where they differ are marked. Flowering times are for zone 5.
Which to choose
- Choose autumn fern for dry summers and moist soil.
- Choose Christmas fern for colder gardens (to zone 3) and a native garden.
Can they grow together?
Yes: they grow in the same conditions. They share part shade and shade and zones 5 to 9.
Read more: all about autumn fern, and all about Christmas fern, each with a bed the planner designed around it.