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| Category: Fern |
| Family: Polypodiaceae (Common Ferns) |
| Origin: Asia, Central (Asia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: NA |
| Bloomtime: Not Significant |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Microlepia strigosa (Lace Fern) - This delicate looking yet sturdy medium-sized fern forms dense clumps 2-3 feet tall that expand slowly by rhizomes. Its leaf blades start a light color and age to medium green and are two feet long by one foot wide with the arching then nodding fronds divided twice (bipinnate). It does best in light shade or morning sun with regular to occasional irrigation - surprisingly water thrifty for a fern and in our coastal garden only gets infrequent irrigation (once every 4 to 6 weeks) during summer months. It is hardy to 20°F and was unharmed in our historic 1990 cold spell when temperatures dipped to 18° F for a short duration - listed as useful to USDA Zone 6 if given some protection. Give occasional grooming or an annual trimming to remove old fronds. This is a great fern to fill in between shrubs as a foundation planting in the dry shade garden. Lace Fern is native to the Himalayas, Sri Lanka, and from southeastern Asia to Japan and Polynesia. The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'mikros' meaning "small" and 'lepis' meaning "scale" in reference to the small scale-like indusia (structure covering the spores) and the specific epithet comes from the Latin word 'strigos' meaning bristles.
The information on this page is based on our library and online research as well as observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in the nursery garden and in other gardens that we have visited. We have also incorporated comments received from others and always appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have some additional information, in particular if this information is contrary to what we have written or includes additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing Microlepia strigosa.
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