Killing frost takes down most plants in the Ozarks. There are some that stay small huddled close to the ground. And there are four winter ferns.
With the warm weather this year in the Ozarks, some of the other ferns are still green. They are not true winter ferns as a harsh winter makes them vanish.
Christmas Fern
The name says it. This fern is still green at Christmas. It stays green all winter. The green is darker and the fronds more ragged than over the summer.
This is a bigger fern. I have grown it in a pot where it is much like any of the commercial ferns.
Ebony Spleenwort
Unlike the Christmas fern, ebony spleenwort has upright fronds looking a lot like green feathers against the rocks. Especially over the winter there are many smaller fronds spreading across the ground.
It is easy to identify as the rachis or main stem is a smooth purple stalk lined by alternate leaflets with little thumbs. Christmas fern has the thumbs too, but the rachis is much bigger, green and a bit hairy.
Walking Fern
Ferns are supposed to have these fronds. This is one fern that doesn’t. It snuggles into the moss on big rocks with its leaves wide at the top and tapering to the end.
Although walking ferns do produce spores like other ferns, it has a faster way of spreading. The long tapering tips of the leaves wedge into the moss and grow into new ferns. The fern walks across the rocks using its leaves.
Cut Leaf Grapefern
Not all winter ferns are green. This one is purple. All summer its single leaf is green. When frost comes, it turns a brownish purple for the winter.
There are two varieties of cut leaf grapefern. One has wide leaflets. The other is lacy. Both turn color.
Winter ferns are much easier to spot now as the competition is asleep for the season. Once spring arrives, taller plants will hide these ferns.
More about these is in “Exploring the Ozark Hills.“
