Christmas Fern vs holly fern

Polystichum acrostichoides compared with Polystichum lonchitis

Key Differences

• Christmas Fern is Not Evaluated while holly fern is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Christmas Fern	holly fern
Kingdom same	Plantae (พืช)	Plantae (พืช)
Phylum same	Tracheophyta	Tracheophyta
Class same	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)
Order same	Polypodiales (Polypodiales)	Polypodiales (Polypodiales)
Family same	Dryopteridaceae	Dryopteridaceae
Genus same	Polystichum	Polystichum
Species	Polystichum acrostichoides	Polystichum lonchitis

Evolutionary Relationship

Christmas Fern and holly fern share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Polystichum.

Conservation Status

Christmas Fern

NE — Not Evaluated

holly fern

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Christmas Fern	holly fern
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Christmas Fern

Habitat

Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Canada, and United States.

holly fern

Habitat

Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and North America (Canada).

Christmas Fern

The Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) is a robust, evergreen fern in the family Dryopteridaceae, native to eastern North America from Nova Scotia south to Florida and west to Kansas and Nebraska. It is one of the most common and widely recognized ferns in eastern North American forests, frequently encountered in deciduous and mixed woodland understories, shaded stream banks, rocky slopes, and ravine walls. The common name refers to the fact that the dark green fronds remain green through the winter, including the Christmas holiday season, making them a traditional decoration in some areas. The stipe and rachis are covered in brown scales, and the pinnae have a distinctive ear-like auricle at their base pointing toward the frond tip. Like other Polystichum species, the Christmas fern produces dimorphic fronds: sterile fronds with broad pinnae and fertile fronds with narrower, spore-bearing pinnae toward the tip. The species forms clumps that can persist for decades in suitable habitat. It is tolerant of shade and a variety of soil conditions, though it prefers moist, well-drained soils rich in organic matter. The Christmas fern is commonly used in native plant landscaping and is considered secure in conservation terms throughout its range.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇨🇦 Canada