Christmas fern

noun

1. an evergreen fern, Polystichum acrostichoides, having dense clusters of stiff fronds growing from a central rootstock.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Christmas fern¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

For example, she made a second Christmas fern where the leaflets were cut separately instead of together, along with other changes that were more precise.

From Washington Post

“There are some wonderful ferns that grow at the base of beech trees,” she said, pointing to the Christmas fern, evergreen but prone to lie flat after a hard freeze.

From Washington Post

In late fall and winter, the Christmas fern’s fronds lie flat on the ground, allowing it to duck out of winter’s worst weather.

From New York Times

The Christmas fern is one of the easiest ferns to grow and takes a range of conditions.

From Washington Post

And she will eventually bring back the ramps, bloodroot, Mayapple, trout lily and Christmas ferns she and her students had carefully moved out of harm’s way.

From New York Times