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Fond of Fronds

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  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    edited May 2022
    @B3 I think it could be dryopteris erythrosora in need if having last year's fronds cut off.
    Have a look carefully at the base to see if there are the round knuckles of new growth. Watch out for soft new fronds too. Some of mine are only just starting into growth ( Cumbria) 

    Or polystichum tsus-simense which I have but it never looks good to be honest, always looks a bit battered.
  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    Loxley said

    I would stay clear of excessively cristate ones - they can look a bit like lettuce! 
    @Astraeus & @Loxley
    Nothing wrong with a lettuce lookalike!


    The narrower harts tongues are nice too.

  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    Looking more closely @B3, there is a pinkish stem, which should be this year's fronds. So perhaps they've emerged but got damaged by frost or drying wind?
    I have some growing in dry soil, and sunshine, and they don't seem bothered by either. Give it a good drink and cut off any stiffer, green fronds that may be last year's.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Will check. It's good to know the type anyway.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    @B3 Here's one of mine with last year's fronds still not removed ( this one is always gold during winter so I'm reluctant to cut it back. I think this delays the new fronds' emerging but I don't know for sure )
    I'm posting it so that you can compare with your fern just to be sure we've got the ID right.


  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    And here's it's brother, cut back a week or two ago. Note the long stipe (stem) for comparing with yours

    .
  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    And here's why we grow them, and why they're best planted to catch some gentle sun....
    I hope your fern recovers @B3


  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    @Woodgreen
    I'm  not sure that the leaves on mine are the same  what do you think?
    I'm  pretty  sure it's  salvageable.  There's  little  shepherd's  crooks  at the base. Some healthy fronds  should help ID  considerably 🧐

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    P.S.
    I'm pretty sure that I have one just like yours. It's doing fine in the ground. -just checked!
    It's much easier to keep them safe in pots😒
    I suspect I have a penchant for polystichums. Most of the ones that still have labels are different varieties of Ps
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    edited May 2022
    I just brought an old frond indoors and it looks like yours I must say. 
    The laminae and pinnae are the same ( don't be impressed, I had to get my fern book out for all that) but of course it could still be a polystichum. 
    Watch for it unfurling and post a photo if you will. 
    Polystichum polyblepharum is lovely, it's unfurling fronds remind me of some sort of trimming from an old-fashioned haberdashery shop. And it reflects light, being shiny, as Loxley said.
    Keep it well watered in case it is a polystichum.
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