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(Blechnum occidentale)
Hammock Fern (Blechnum occidentale)
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Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada
CC BY 2.0
Image By:
Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 2.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada | License Type: CC BY 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 | Uploader: Helmy oved | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Blechnum_occidentale_(19984063741).jpg | Notes: |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Blechnum occidentale, commonly known as Hammock Fern, is an evergreen fern native to tropical and subtropical forests in the Americas and the Caribbean, particularly thriving in moist, shaded areas such as forest understories and along stream banks. It typically grows to a height of 0.5-2 feet (0.15-0.6 meters) and can spread up to 2 feet (0.6 meters) wide. The fern has a rosette form with fronds that are pinnately compound, and its new growth often displays a reddish tint before maturing to a deep green.
Hammock Fern is valued for its lush foliage and adaptability to low-light conditions, making it a popular choice for shaded garden areas, as a ground cover, or in container plantings. It requires consistently moist soil and benefits from high humidity, mimicking its native rainforest habitat. While it is not drought-tolerant, it can be relatively easy to maintain if provided with the right conditions. It is not commonly afflicted by diseases but can suffer from root rot if overwatered or planted in poorly draining soil.CC BY-SA 4.0
Hammock Fern is valued for its lush foliage and adaptability to low-light conditions, making it a popular choice for shaded garden areas, as a ground cover, or in container plantings. It requires consistently moist soil and benefits from high humidity, mimicking its native rainforest habitat. While it is not drought-tolerant, it can be relatively easy to maintain if provided with the right conditions. It is not commonly afflicted by diseases but can suffer from root rot if overwatered or planted in poorly draining soil.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Fern
- Height: 0.5-1.5 feet
- Width: 1-2 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Non-Flowering
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Part Shade, Full Shade
- Water: High
- Drainage: Medium, Fast
Common Uses
Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance
Natural Habitat
Tropical and subtropical forests, particularly in moist, shaded areas and along stream banks
Other Names
Common Names: Sinkhole Ferm, New World Midsorus Fern, Östlicher Rippenfarn
Scientific Names: , Blechnum occidentale, Blechnum occidentale var. occidentale, Blechnum flaccisquama, Blechnum occidentale var. pubirhachis, Blechnum sodiroi, Blechnum mucronatum, Blechnum occidentale var. caudatum, Blechnum cartilagineum, Blechnum glandulosum
GBIF Accepted Name: Blechnum occidentale L.