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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

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Wednesday - May 20, 2009

From: Mabank, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Ferns
Title: Winter hardy fern for northeast Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I am looking for a winter hardy fern to grown around my deck. The area would get some morning sun but afternoon shade. What do you suggest?

ANSWER:

The only native fern for your area that is evergreen is Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern).  It grows in part shade (2 to 6 hours of sun per day) or shade (less than 2 hours sun per day).

 

From the Image Gallery


Christmas fern
Polystichum acrostichoides

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