2011 list

Updated 4 April 2011

The Plantsman's Pocket is a more formal name for the seed offerings of a horticultural ally with very diverse plant interests.

Fern spores can be very challenging to grow and require special conditions. Growing instructions will accompany spores. Packets will contain enough spores for 2-3 sowings; cost per packet is $4.50. Ordering information can be found on the home page at How to Order.

Adiantum poiretii var. poiretti - Pteridaceae. A dainty maidenhair to about 18" tall with slow spreading rhizomes and fertile leaflets with attractively scalloped margins. Source plants grown from spore collected in central Chile have performed well in the San Francisco Bay area. Grows year round under mild conditions or indoors, may be deciduous elsewhere. Sue Olsen's Encyclopedia of Garden Ferns says: "This interesting species is in cultivation in the gardens of dedicated collectors in England… and should establish in the maritime climates of the U.S. Pacific Coast…" Hardy in zones 8 and 9.


Anemia rotundifolia - Schizaceae. Brazil and New World tropics. Initially shiny pink, pinnate fronds turn pale green and loose their sheen. Rounded segments appear along the midvein for about 8", but a leafless, coiled extension is produced that may be longer than the leafy portion of the frond and develop a new plant at its tip. Each frond on a mature plant bears two basal pinnae modified into erect "antennae" bearing frilly masses that produce the spores. Referred to as semi-tender in Hoshizaki and Moran's Fern Grower's Manual.

Argyrochosma formosa - Pteridaceae. One of the largest and most beautiful species in this elegant genus resembles Pellaea on a small scale. Fronds are over 1’ in height, finely dissected, with widely spaced blue-green segments, and shiny black stems. Original collection from among rocks in Sola de Vega, south of Oaxaca, Mexico. This fern is easy to grow from spore to mature specimens, but tricky to maintain in cultivation. Responds well to regular fertilization, but needs excellent air circulation and the crown must be free of organic matter. Humid conditions and organic matter near the crown invite fungal attack.  Top dress with a layer of pumice or decomposed granite. As the crown grows upward, top with sandy soil and rock.

Belvisia mucronata - Polypodiaceae. From southeast Asia and eastern Australia (where its endangered) this unusual epiphytic fern with short creeping rhizomes has narrow, tapering, 18 inch to 2 foot entire fronds ending in a tail-like structure from 3 to 6 inches long that bears the spores in a brown furry patch on the underside. Common names include tailed fern and needle fern. Marginal outdoors in the San Francisco Bay Area and best in cool to warm greenhouse conditions.
Blechnum chilense - Blechnaceae. A large fern from central to southern Chile with bold, arching 3 foot fronds (occasionally reaching 5 feet in length) and spreading slowly by long creeping rhizomes. Mature fronds are dark green. New frond color varies from amber to a rich pink. The source plant is a select form with deep pink new fronds and long pinnae. Although found in wet areas in habitat, this fern succeeds in the garden with average water and tolerates some drought in shade. Will tolerate sun with extra water. Survives 14 degrees F with loss of foliage.

Blechnum discolor - Blechnaceae. The crown fern is a New Zealand endemic with rosettes of narrow, once pinnate fronds from 1-3' long. It forms a nice black trunk to 3' and establishes a small grove by short runners. Fertile fronds can have an unusual outline as the pinnae bases often remain expanded with the fertile tips constricted. Found in a wide range of forest types from dry lowland to wet montane, this is probably an adaptable fern cold hardy to the high teens F.


Campyloneurum angustifolium - Polypodiaceae. Erect and arching or pendant narrow strap-like entire fronds extend 2' and are less than 1" wide (variable by individual and age of plant). Fronds emerge in flushes from a short creeping rhizome. It can be several years before adult form is achieved, but this fern is very easy to grow from spore. Epiphytic or sometimes terrestrial in New World tropics at a wide range of elevations, some surprisingly high. Source plant from Costa Rican cloud forest. Performs well in a cool greenhouse. Hardy outdoors to zone 9A.

Cheilanthes bonariensis - Pteridaceae, from Mexico to Argentina. A beautiful clumping rock fern with stiff, silvery blue-green, narrow, feather-like fronds 8-18” tall. Grow in rock gardens or other exposed situations. Hardy at least to 16 deg. F. Sow spores on a 1” layer of moist, pasteurized seedling mix in a closed, clear deli container and grow in bright, diffuse light during the first stage. Later transfer young ferns to larger containers when fronds are 2” tall and gradually acclimate to lower humidity and brighter light. Takes about 6 months to develop many tiny 1" plantlets.

Cheilanthes lendigera - Pteridaceae. Native from the southwest USA through South America and the West Indies, the beaded lip fern is one of the easiest Cheilanthes sp. to grow. Narrowly triangular 8” to 1’ fronds have the texture of fine beadwork, dark green above and covered with pale hairs below. Forms a loose clump by short creeping rhizomes. Good for the rock garden, but tolerates more shade and surrounding vegetation than most Cheilanthes species. Enjoys low humidity without complete drying of the soil. Grows easily from spore. Hardy to USDA zone 8.

Cibotium glaucum - Dicksoniaceae. The Hawaiian tree fern is slow to gain trunk height, but may bear its fronds on very long petioles (up to 8 foot) to get above other plants. In bright light the petioles are shorter and trunk height may increase a bit faster. The fronds are of heavy substance, pale shiny green above and waxy blue-green below. The trunks and young fiddleheads are thickly covered with soft golden hair once used to fill pillows at the expense of wild populations. Cold hardy to USDA zone 9a. Easy from spore, but slow to mature.
Cyathea tomentosissima - Cyatheaceae. Endemic to high elevation New Guinea, this finely dissected dwarf tree fern is covered in coppery scales. The best tree fern for small gardens is tolerant of heat with moisture and somewhat drought tolerant under cool conditions. The fronds are 2 to 4 foot in length. The trunk is slow to develop, but can exceed 6 feet in height after many years. Easy to grow from spore and very beautiful at all sizes. Cold hardy to about 25 degrees F.

Davallia repens (=Humata repens) Davalliaceae. Native from northern India and Japan to Australia, this small tropical to subtropical
epiphytic fern with creeping rhizomes is suited to pot culture and hanging baskets. Its deep green fronds are of heavy substance with an elegant pattern of dissection. Plants are best in free draining epiphyte mix with regular feeding. Slow and steady growth. Performs well in a cool greenhouse with drench and dry watering. 

Dryopteris arguta - Dryopteridaceae. A lovely California native fern for the bright woodland garden that grows in small clumps 1 to 2’ across and with upright fronds to about 18” tall. The spores of this species show a blue light dormancy. Sow in fall and/or give warm white artificial light, or keep in an exposure that restricts to either morning or evening light so that red light will be prominent in the spectrum received by the spore culture. After germination, light quality is less important. If no germination occurs after a month, put spore cultures in the dark for two weeks and try again with another round of warm white light. Easy after germination is achieved.

Microlepia platyphylla - Dennistaedtiaceae. Ranging from India and south east Asia to the Philippines in nature, this large stature fern grows from a creeping rhizome, forming clumps 3 to 4’ across. Frond size varies from 4 to 12’ in height and 18” to 3’ across depending on water availability and exposure. The elegant crosiers rise on tall, blue green stalks that turn shining black their second year. Foliage is less vulnerable to browning than the more commonly grown M. strigosa. Tolerates root competition and moderate drought. Undamaged in SF Bay Area during the '90 freeze at 16 deg. F. Easy.


Pecluma alfredii - Polypodiaceae. This small epiphytic fern from Mexico and Central America is found in pine-oak-liquidambar forests (that may occasionally experience frost) and cloud forests with fronds up to 1'. The pale, gray-green, pinnately divided fronds with black midribs are densely pectinate and very beautiful. Although desiccation tolerant, this fern can be kept evenly moist in a soil mix suitable for epiphytes and in small hanging baskets. Cold hardiness unknown.


Pellaea andromedifolia - Pteridaceae. The coffee fern is found in nature from Oregon south through California to Baja California, Mexico. The common name comes from the small leaflets shaped like tiny coffee beans. (The Mexican plants have larger, more rounded leaflets.) The stiff fronds from 12” to 2’ have tan to pinkish stalks and a cloud of tiny blue-green leaflets developing a pinkish cast in bright light and make a clump on short creeping rhizomes. Good in the rock garden with a sandy soil, needing bright exposure and good air circulation. Responds well to fertilizer. Easy to grow from spore and maintain in a suitable garden site. Hardy to USDA zone 8 or a bit colder.

Polypodium glaucophyllum (=P. levigatum) - Polypodiaceae. A species from Central and South America with glaucous (blue-green) entire leaves that taper to a long point. Not cold hardy, but tolerates occasional dryness well. Pale green rhizomes are long-creeping in soil, but make a nice cascade of fronds in hanging baskets.


Polypodium lepidotrichum - Polypodiaceae. From montane forests of southern Mexico, this epiphyte has big, bold, pinnate fronds (to 2.5') of heavy, leathery substance with the texture of suede due to an initial covering of silvery scales turning reddish-brown with time and thinning on the upper leaf surfaces. The pinnae are quite long (to 5"). The rhizome is covered with larger reddish brown scales. Although growing high up in the trees of its Mexican home, this plant grows well on garden soil with a layer of mulch or other organic matter. Plants are moderately drought tolerant and survived 16 deg F at UC Botanical Garden in the 1990 freeze.

Polypodium rhodopleuron - Polypodiaceae. From Mexico and Central America at elevations of 400 to 2100 feet, this striking fern goes through a dramatic annual color change. New fronds are orange-red, changing to deep maroon as they mature. The maroon color is held for several months, gradually retreating to the veins as the sori mature. Several months after spore release all fronds may be shed for a brief dormancy after which a new crop of red fronds appears. Referred to as semi-tender in Hoshizaki and Moran, this slow growing fern is usually kept in a cool greenhouse and makes an exquisite hanging basket specimen.
Polypodium scouleri - Polypodiaceae. Known for its shiny, bold, thick textured foliage, this species is often found as an epiphyte in coastal northern California and may be grown on tree trunks, rock walls, and rocky soil. Drought tolerant due to water storage in rhizomes and the leathery leaves. Give overhead water to discourage thrips. Easy from spore.

Polystichum munitum - Dryopteridaceae. The handsome California native sword fern is an adaptable garden plant that performs well in the deep shade of redwoods as well as open eastern exposures in coastal California. It produces a single crown that can slowly increase into a clump with time. Avoid thrips by removing all fronds each winter before the new fronds unfurl. Looks its best in spring. Gametophytes are easy to grow, but somewhat slow to produce sporophytes.

Thelypteris puberula - Thelypteridaceae. A fine textured short creeping fern that makes a lush container plant or a graceful landscape specimen. Can reach several feet in height.