Plant Profile: Cystopteris protrusa

Taxonomy: Cystopteris protrusa

Names

Lowland Brittle Fern, Southern Fragile Fern

  • Photo of Cystopteris protrusa (Cystopteris protrusas)

Phonetic Spelling:sis-TOP-ter-is pro-TROO-sah

Genus:Cystopteris

Species:protrusa

Family:Aspleniaceae

This is a compact, lightweight deciduous fern characterized by its extensive creeping rhizomes. It thrives effortlessly in various conditions. The fronds feature central stems that are prone to breaking, which is reflected in its common name. While they may brown during the peak of summer, the plant consistently produces new fronds.

In terms of pests and diseases, this fern faces no significant issues.

Cystopteris protrusa Feature Summary

Cystopteris protrusa Image Gallery

Tags

#deciduous
#easy to grow
#shade tolerant
#shade garden
#fern
#rabbit resistant
#NC native
#airy
#deer resistant
#native garden
#rock gardens
#woodlands
#heavy shade tolerant

Similar Plants

Cystopteris protrusa is often confused with:

Cystopteris protrusa Feature Summary

Fruit
No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
Flowers
Leaves
Long, erect fronds; bipinnate pinnatified to tripinnate pinnatified.
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
12 inches-3 feet
Less than 12 inches
Landscape
Native Garden
Shade Garden
Deer
Rabbits
Heavy Shade

Cystopteris protrusa Attributes

Cystopteris protrusa: Country Or Region Of Origin

South East Canada to U.S.A

Cystopteris protrusa: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

Heavy Shade,Rabbits and deer

Cystopteris protrusa: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Cystopteris protrusa: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Cystopteris protrusa Fruit

Cystopteris protrusa: Fruit Description

No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.

Cystopteris protrusa Flowers

Cystopteris protrusa: Flower Description

No flowers.

Cystopteris protrusa Leaves

Cystopteris protrusa: Leaf Description

Long, erect fronds; bipinnate pinnatified to tripinnate pinnatified.

Cystopteris protrusa: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Cystopteris protrusa: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Cystopteris protrusa: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Cystopteris protrusa: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Cystopteris protrusa: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Cystopteris protrusa Whole Plant Traits

Cystopteris protrusa: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Cystopteris protrusa: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Cystopteris protrusa: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Cystopteris protrusa: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Cystopteris protrusa Cultural Conditions

Cystopteris protrusa: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Cystopteris protrusa: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Cystopteris protrusa: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Cystopteris protrusa Stem

Cystopteris protrusa: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Cystopteris protrusa Landscape

Cystopteris protrusa: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Cystopteris protrusa: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Cystopteris protrusa: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Cystopteris protrusa: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland