Phlebodium aureum?

[BeyondTheGarden]

I love when walmart sells exotic plants for $5.  I'm not smart on many types of ferns but this looks like Phlebodium aureum maybe?

[Silas_Sancona]

32 minutes ago, Jesse PNW said:

I love when walmart sells exotic plants for $5.  I'm not smart on many types of ferns but this looks like Phlebodium aureum maybe?

Correct. 

What they turn into, and some idea on cold hardiness ( 50/ 50 chance they'll survive up there ) :  https://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=642

[BeyondTheGarden]

Thank you @Silas_Sancona. 

Like every plant I love, there's nothing but conflicting info on how hardy it is.  I know it will get too big for this area but i have a good micro-microclimate for it.  In a pile of rocks, under a log, next to the stream. If the fronds die hopefully the rhizome will make it. 

And, it was only$5. 

[Silas_Sancona]

44 minutes ago, Jesse PNW said:

Thank you @Silas_Sancona. 

Like every plant I love, there's nothing but conflicting info on how hardy it is.  I know it will get too big for this area but i have a good micro-microclimate for it.  In a pile of rocks, under a log, next to the stream. If the fronds die hopefully the rhizome will make it. 

And, it was only$5. 

Was thinking the same thing.. You know what you're doing, ..and yea, lol ..if it doesn't make it, it was only a few bucks, and easily replaceable ( if you were inclined to try again )  Tucked between rocks should definitely provide a good micro climate.
 
Astrolepis ( Cloak Ferns ) might be another Genus to look into, esp. if you're creating rock garden - esque areas in your landscape.  Tough as nails as well.

[BeyondTheGarden]

I have never heard of Astrolepis, what a wonderfully strange group of plants.  I had no idea there were dry-loving ferns.  Thank you.  

Pteridacea... I think that's my new favorite word.  

[aabell]

Great find... nice big fronds here, most commonly seen growing in epiphytically in Sabal boots.  According to the Florida plant atlas and iNat maps it looks like its native range in FL tightly correlates to zone 9. May be a bit of a zone push but definitely worth a shot.

https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=3613

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=map&taxon_id=127908

[Silas_Sancona]

44 minutes ago, Jesse PNW said:

I have never heard of Astrolepis, what a wonderfully strange group of plants.  I had no idea there were dry-loving ferns.  Thank you.  

Pteridacea... I think that's my new favorite word.  

They're awesome plants..  Believe me, seeing Cloak or Lip Ferns growing near, or below large Cacti is one of the more interesting contradictions you'll see in the plant world.

Think there are 3 sp. of Astrolepis here..  A. sinuatus, Wavy Scale Cloak Fern should be the easiest to track down, if interested.. But, think places like PDN have grown at least one of the other sp.

..Then you have the other " dry - loving " ferns like Lip, ( Myriopteris.. numerous sp. spread all over the west.   ) Star Cloak ( Notholeana.  ) Gold-back ( Pentagrama ) Copper Fern ( Bommeria hispida ) ..and a few others that might  hide out where there is more shade, but still survive on far less rainfall / withstand more heat than many would assume..

This Blue/ silver- colored Lip Fern, Myriopteris linheimeri  is one of my favorite sp. i have observed here so far..  Need to collect a few dried fronds to try and start some from spores this fall.





Star Cloak, Notholaena standleyi  Another cool dry lover that is tough to find, but shouldn't be.  Tried starting these but lost the culture ( didn't have anywhere shady to put it once it got hot.  Cooked the container, after it fell off something it had been sitting on ) Starting another trial batch i'll keep in all day shade once we get to Monsoon season.

[BeyondTheGarden]

Yes.  I need that star shaped entity in my life!

Are you trying to propogate by spore?  I have found that dividing the  rhizome works well for any type of fern. So far....

[Silas_Sancona]

11 hours ago, Jesse PNW said:

Yes.  I need that star shaped entity in my life!

Are you trying to propogate by spore?  I have found that dividing the  rhizome works well for any type of fern. So far....

Yes, Spore propagation is the only " bullet proof " means of  growing many of these ferns for cultivation.  Unlike others, many drought adapted species will not transplant well from habitat ..or, you have to really know how to acclimate them, and even then, long term success is often low..  Something about the ferns familiarizing themselves w/ local conditions, on -site soil PH, etc right out of the gate as the spores are germinating.  From what i've read, aside from plant rescue situations, it is illegal to dig wild specimens in many areas as well. 

Don't think snipping a few spore bearing leaves here or there is frowned upon as much though  ..As long as someone isn't stripping every plant encountered bare.  In many cases, a leaf or two will provide more than enough spores to work with.