Other Names:  Hacksaw Fern

Description:

A tufted ground fern; fronds emerge a coppery red becoming rough and raspy when old; a wonderful texture when massed as groundcover in a light shade area; should be kept moist and not allowed to dry out

Ornamental Features

Common Rasp Fern's attractive crinkled ferny leaves remain light green in color throughout the year on a plant with an arching habit of growth.

Landscape Attributes

Common Rasp Fern is an open herbaceous evergreen fern with a shapely form and gracefully arching fronds. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Common Rasp Fern is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Common Rasp Fern will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.

Common Rasp Fern is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a canvas of foliage against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.