One of the easiest of the evergreen desert ferns we grow if the North American native, Astrolepis sinuata, better known as wavy cloak fern. This year, we’ve introduced spore grown plants of Astrolepis sinuata ‘Jeff Davis’, from our 2000 spore collection in the West Texas county by the same name. In that desolate region (population of less than 2,000 people), the climate is both cold and dry with an average rainfall of only 17″. Consequently, most plants in the region are truly tough-as-nails.
Astrolepis sinuata is an epilythic lithophyte, which means that in the wild, you’ll always find this desert fern growing in rock cracks, or at the base of rocks, often among limestone outcrops. These locations allow the fern to keep its roots protected. Like many desert ferns, the olive-green foliage of Astrolepis sinuata shrivels during extremely dry periods to conserve water. Once moisture is available, the foliage rehydrates and expands back to its normal size. In our garden, these have thrived for decades in 2-6 hours of full sun. Surprisingly, these also make fabulous container plants, even without the benefit of rocks. Hardiness is Zone 7a-9b.
These ferns grow in the Desert in Big bend national Park. In the dry summer months, the fronds curl up and turn brown to save there energy. Good drought tolerant plant.