Polystichum polyblepharum

Native to Japan, Korea and China, Polystichum polyblepharum, the Tassel Fern, is a wonderful evergreen fern that is capable of growing to a large size with age and sometimes forming a small trunk. Very cold hardy, it has bipinnate fronds with slightly serrated indentations and they persist throughout the winter with new growth appearing early in the spring. The thick fleshy stipe and rachis are both covered in attractive light brown scales which give it a strong sturdy feel yet the new growth in spring hangs down in delicate dangling tassels giving it its common name, Tassel Fern.

This is a desirable hardy fern, larger and more robust than Polystichum setiferum, yet like that fern it is graceful and showy forming impressive circular rosettes.