Christella dentata
soft fern
Tropical Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Australia
Overview
Christella dentata is a terrestrial fern in the family Thelypteridaceae, forming clumps of arching fronds 12-40 inches (30-100 cm) long from a short, creeping to erect rhizome. The fronds are once-divided and soft-textured, pale to mid green, with the lowest pairs of pinnae reduced and angled downward. Each frond narrows to a tapering tip, and the pinnae have shallowly toothed margins. Round spore clusters line the undersides of the pinnae in two rows either side of the midvein. New fronds unfurl from coiled croziers through the warmer months, while older fronds brown and die back in cold or dry conditions. Growth is moderate to fast in warmth and moisture, and clumps spread slowly to form colonies on damp ground. The fern grows in shaded, humid sites and is sensitive to frost, drying wind, and full midday sun.
Native Range
Native across tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and northern and eastern Australia. It grows in rainforest margins, gullies, swamp edges, and along streams and drains, in moist shaded soils from the lowlands to lower mountain slopes.Suggested Uses
Used in shaded, moist gardens, fern gullies, and beside ponds and water features, spaced 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) apart. Suits containers and shaded courtyards in warm climates where humidity stays high. The soft fronds also fill gaps under trees and shrubs.How to Identify
Growing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in part shade to full shade on consistently moist, humus-rich soils, in sheltered, humid positions out of strong wind. Steady moisture keeps fronds fresh, and the fern wilts and browns at the edges in drought or dry air. Frost cuts the fronds back, though plants reshoot from the rhizome in spring in mild areas. A mulch of leaf litter and light feeding with slow-release fertilizer in spring support steady growth. Clumps can be divided in spring to make new plants. Few pests affect it, though scale and caterpillars occasionally feed on the fronds.Pruning
Old, frost-burnt, or tattered fronds can be cut back near the base in late winter before new growth unfurls. Removing dead fronds through the year keeps the clump tidy and improves air flow. The fern reshoots from the rhizome after cutting.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons