Our patch of the Chinese, Thelypteris bombadilii is looking quite fabulous, as we wrap up summer at JLBG. We offered this amazing, deciduous groundcover fern in 2021, only three years after the species was published, and as occasionally happens, sales were miserable, despite the purported green mulch movement. Consequently, most of our left over stock was shared with staff and volunteers, and a nice patch now resides in our home garden. Perhaps one day, we’ll offer this amazing fern again, and hope sentiments toward it have changed.
As an interesting side note, Thelypteris bombadilii was named in 2018, by Dutch botanist/taxonomist, Maarten Christenhusz, who named it after a fictional Lord of the Rings character, Tom Bombadil. And now, as the late Paul Harvey used to say, “You know the rest of the story.”
I would definitely add to my fern collection🙂
What a lovely and lively fern. It really has great movement in its topsy/turvey growth. And cost effective because it spreads! Maybe it didn’t sell as a *ground cover* bc of its hieght. But it’s definitely a plant I’d love to have.
Now that everyone sees what a beautiful fern this is they’ll be begging you to propagate more.
Great little article will be looking forward to its availability in the future.