Family
Pteridaceae
Botanical Name
CHEILANTHES lanosa
Plant Common Name
Hairy Lipfern
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
Fine hairs cover the light green fronds of the hairy lipfern, delicate-looking deciduous, clumping fern. It is native to granite rocky slopes and ledges from the Catskill Mountains to central Missouri and southward to the Florida panhandle. It grows at higher inland elevations, protected from intense summertime sunlight from nearby trees, shrubs or sheltering rocks. It develops a short, slow-growing rhizome to form an attractive leafy clump.
Hairy lipfern produces upright, long, triangular-shaped fronds of medium green that look lighter because of reflected light off the tiny hairs. The tiny leaflets in the frond are flat and oval, and their edges sometimes roll inward on the bottom side. The leaflets often are arranged in an alternating pattern on the dark brown frond stem as well. From summer into fall, fertile fronds produce black sori bodies on their undersides. The sori occur along the edge of the leaflets, looking very contrived and ornamental. Ferns reproduce by spores released from the sori, not with flowers and seeds. Excessive winter cold or a prolonged drought causes many fronds to die off.
Retain natural colonies of the hairy lipfern if encountered on your property. Nursery-grown plants may be transplanted into partially shaded rock gardens, woodland stone outcroppings or in the nooks of a shaded stone retaining wall. A humus-rich, well-drained, gritty soil works fine. This fern looks its best when allowed to form dense clumps among attractive boulders and hillside wildflowers and rock lichens, creating a naturalistic setting in the landscape.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
8 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
5 - 8
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Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16
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Plant Type
Fern
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Sun Exposure
Partial Shade, Full Shade
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Height
4"-16" / 10.2cm - 40.6cm
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Width
6"-20" / 15.2cm - 50.8cm
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Native To
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
None
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Light Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Light Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Light Green
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Fine
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
