Lacy Leaf Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora var. prolifica)
dry-OP-ter-iss er-ith-roe-SOR-ah variety prolifica

Semi-Evergreen Upright, Arching Clump in the Dryopteridaceae Family
 
Buy Lacy Leaf Autumn Fern
Size Notes Price Availability
#1 gallon Field $19.02 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4

Lacy Leaf Autumn Fern is a finely-cut selection of Autumn Fern, with more deeply dissected, lacy fronds than the species.

Dryopteris erythrosora var. prolifica, the Lacy Leaf Autumn Fern, is a finely-cut selection of Autumn Fern with much more deeply dissected, lace-textured fronds than the plain species, emerging in the same pink-to-cinnamon-red new growth. In humid conditions it can occasionally produce small plantlets along its leaf margins — the trait behind the name “prolifica.”

Kew’s Plants of the World Online currently treats this name as a synonym of the plain species rather than a formally accepted botanical variety, so it is best understood as a trade name for an especially fine-cut form rather than a distinct taxon.

Pros

  • Finely dissected, extra-lacy frond texture
  • Same coppery-red new growth as the species
  • Semi-evergreen structure

Cons

  • Not a formally recognized botanical variety — a trade name for a fine-cut form
  • Slow to reach full size
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 20 - 28 inches tall. 18 - 24 inches wide.
Growth Rate Slow
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 5a - 9b (Usually hardy to -20° F)
Tags Full Shade, Medium, Partial Shade, Partial Sun
Bloom Period Non-flowering
Flower Color Non-Flowering
 

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Pricing and Availability History

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Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!