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    • Photo of Blechnum penna-marina foliage, form by Sebright Gardens

    Photo by Sebright Gardens

    Used with permission, all rights reserved

    Show all photos

    Buy Blechnum penna-marina

    Also Known As

    • Austroblechnum penna-marina
    • Blechnum penna marina
    • Blechnum penna-marina ssp. penna-marina
    • Alpine Water Fern
    • Little Hardy Fern

    Plant type

    fern, groundcover

    size

    • H: 6"-12"
    • W: 12"-60"

    planting zones

    • 7a-10b

    1 gallon bagged root ball | $15

    Ships UPS, flat charge based on order total.

    Fewer than 10 at Gossler Farms

    3.5" | $15

    Ships USPS, based on weight/location

    Fewer than 8 at Secret Garden Growers

    3/4 gallon pot-bare root | $12

    Ships as soon as new growth is hardened off

    Fewer than 29 at Sebright Gardens

    More Options

    Blechnum penna-marina plant details

    Blechnum penna-marina is an evergreen groundcover fern with bronze, burgundy, green and pink foliage. Grows well with mostly sun - shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in acidic, average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something humidity tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Blechnum penna-marina

    Plant type: groundcover fern
    Plant family: blechnaceae
    Foliage: evergreen bronze, burgundy, green and pink
    Mature size: 12 IN - 60 IN - wide, 6 IN - 12 IN - tall
    Uses: border plant, container plant, creeping, rock garden, woodland garden, year round interest

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Blechnum penna-marina

    USDA Zones: 7a - 10b
    Sun exposure: mostly sun - shade
    Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
    Resistant to: deer, rabbit and snail / slug, humidity and verticillium wilt
    Soil needs: acidic, average, rich and well-drained

    We independently publish plant data to search multiple nurseries at once. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases when you buy through our links.

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    The alpine water fern, Blechnum penna-marina, forms thick evergreen mats of small, upward-facing, once-pinnate, glossy, dark green fronds that are flushed copper-burgundy when young. A perfect edger for a shader border or specimen for a shaded rockery where it will slowly creep into nice colonies. It is native to Chile, New Zealand, and Australia.

    By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

    A (4”) spreading deer fern. Plants are slow spreading and make a pretty evergreen ground cover. We made a planting between a fence and a wall in Eugene and it made a wonderful show.

    By: Gossler Farms

    Evergreen ground covering fern, a petite 6” stature, creeping slowly...new fronds are showy copper-red. Loves meandering through chinks and crevices in stone walls but equally attractive under shrubs where it can eventually spread to a 5’ patch. Most soils (sand to clay), water when dry; light shade for best spring color; cutting to ground in late winter increases new growth and color.

    By: Secret Garden Growers

    Zn 7. Fronds emerge rosy-pink. Evergreen.

    By: Little Prince of Oregon

    Native to the southern hemisphere, Australia and New Zealand as well as South America, this is a dwarf, evergreen fern, to only 12" tall, with dense fronds that emerge bronze and age to dark green. A lovely groundcover for part to full shade, spreading slowly primarily by underground rhizomes to form clumps. Doesn't actually grow in water -- in spite of the common name -- but often near water courses. Enjoys moist conditions as long as drainage is good. Best if roots aren't planted too deep. Frost hardy to -10F, USDA zone 6.

    By: Cistus Nursery

    Blechnum penna-marina ~ Thick mound of fine, dark green fronds that emerge coppery-red in spring. Slowly spreads to make a thick mass of fronds. Plant in nearly sun to light shade & well drained, acidic, moist soil. Zones 6 to 9. Size: 4” to 8”. Evergreen.

    By: Sebright Gardens

    This a bigger version of the little B. penna-marina ssp. alpina commonly found in nurseries. We never see this offered which is just a shame since it is a great fern. Well, not such a shame since a little exclusivity never hurts. This makes a dense groundcover of evergreen foliage.

    By: Far Reaches Farm

    This 5" tall evergreen groundcover fern emerges deep salmon in color and darkens to a glossy dark green. It spreads slowly to make a nice mat, and loves a pot, rocks or logs. Lilliputian.

    By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

    Gardening facts about Blechnum penna-marina plant

    How to Grow Blechnum penna-marina

    • Sun Exposure

      • mostly sun - shade

    • Water Needs

      • even moisture - regular

    • Soil Needs

      • acidic
      • average
      • well-drained
      • rich

    • Special Situation

      • humidity tolerant
      • verticillium wilt resistant

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • pink
      • bronze
      • green
      • burgundy

    • Wildlife

      • deer resistant
      • snail / slug resistant
      • rabbit resistant

    • Foliage Season

      • evergreen

    See other plant types of Blechnum for your garden

    Blechnum chilense

    aka Blechnum cordatum, Blechnum cordatum chiliense, Parablechnum cordatum, Chilean Hard Fern, Costilla de Vaca

    Plant Type

    Fern

    Zones

    7a-10b

    Size

    Height: 3'-5'

    Width: 3'-5'

    • mostly sun - shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Blechnum chilense foliage by Cistus Nursery
    View Plant

    Blechnum spicant

    aka Struthiopteris spicant, Deer Fern, Northwestern Deer Fern

    Plant Type

    Fern

    Zones

    6a-9b

    Size

    Height: 1'-2'

    Width: 2'-3'

    • bright shade - shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Blechnum spicant form by plant lust
    View Plant

    Blechnum microphyllum

    aka Austroblechnum microphyllum, Blechnum gayanum, Blechnum germanii, Blechnum poeppigianum, Lomaria araucana, Lomaria microphylla, Fern

    Plant Type

    Fern

    Zones

    8a-12

    Size

    Height: 5"-6"

    Width: 5"-6"

    • bright shade - shade
    • even moisture
    Photo of Blechnum microphyllum foliage by Stan Shebs
    View Plant

    Blechnum moorei

    aka Oceaniopteris ciliata, Brazilian Tree Fern

    Plant Type

    Fern

    Zones

    9b-11

    Size

    Height: 3'-5'

    Width: 2'-3'

    • bright shade - mostly shade
    • even moisture
    Photo of Blechnum moorei foliage by Stan Shebs
    View Plant

    Blechnum fluviatile

    aka Cranfillia fluviatilis, Creek Fern, Kawakawa, Kiwakiwa, Kiwikiwi, Star Fern

    Plant Type

    Fern

    Zones

    9b-11

    Size

    Height: 1'-2'

    Width: 1'-2'

    • mostly shade - shade
    • even moisture
    Photo of Blechnum fluviatile foliage by Cordyceps
    View Plant
    +14 more Blechnum
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