Dryopteris hondoensis
Thanks for Dr. John Mickel for introducing this evergreen fern species from the moist woodlands of Japan into cultivation in the US. This very cool fern has lacily cut foliage similar to Dryopteris erythrosora on a vigorous growing 3′ wide clump. Also like Dryopteris erythrosora, the new growth of Dryopteris hondoensis is a striking red color. The airy fronds makes a great textural feature in the woodland garden. Dryopteris hondoensis is an apogamous triploid, meaning it can satisfy its’ own sexual urges without a consummating encounter…and it has an extra set of chromosomes. For botanists, that’s reason alone to own this oddity, but as a horticulturist, it forms an amazing garden specimen.
