Perennial · North Texas care guide
Cyrtomium falcatum
Nursery Pro tip: The evergreen fern for dry shade under live oaks. Cut old fronds in late February before the new ones unroll.
The toughest fern for North Texas — glossy, dark, leathery fronds that look almost like holly leaves, 2 ft tall, evergreen through most winters, and far more heat- and drought-tolerant than any other fern we sell.
Shade to part shade; morning sun only. Well-drained soil with compost. The north side of the house, under oaks, beside a shaded entry. Space 2–3 ft apart.
Spring or fall. Hole twice the pot width, crown at soil level, native soil with compost, Root Stimulator, mulch.
Weekly through summer; it tolerates dry shade better than other ferns but looks best with regular water.
Light feeding in spring with a slow-release fertilizer.
Cut off winter-burned or tattered fronds at the base in late February, before the new fiddleheads unfurl. Nothing else.
Foliage burns in a hard freeze and regrows from the crown. Scorch if it gets afternoon sun. Otherwise pest-free, and deer generally pass it by.
The reliable green of a shade bed with Turk's cap, liriope, hosta, coral bells and Japanese maple.
Written for Rockwall's black clay, heat and winters by the Landscape Source team. Every yard is different — bring a photo by, or ask LS-Ai, and we'll tailor it to your spot.