Lindsaea linearis
screw fern
Eastern and southern Australia, New Zealand
Overview
Lindsaea linearis is a small evergreen terrestrial fern growing 10-30 cm (4-12 in) tall, native to damp heath and woodland in eastern and southern Australia and New Zealand. It spreads slowly by a thin, wiry, creeping rhizome to form open colonies. The narrow fronds are linear in outline, 5-25 cm (2-10 in) long, and divided into many small fan-shaped to wedge-shaped pinnae set in two rows along a dark, wiry stalk; the segments often twist, the source of the name screw fern. Fertile fronds carry a continuous band of spore-bearing sori along the outer margin of each pinna, protected by a flap of leaf tissue. Sterile and fertile fronds look similar apart from this margin. The fern grows in seasonally moist, sandy or peaty acidic soils in open to lightly shaded sites and tolerates full sun where the ground stays damp. It is slow to establish, dislikes drying out, and does not tolerate prolonged drought, so it needs reliable soil moisture through the warmer months. In gardens it suits cool, moist pockets rather than exposed dry beds.
Native Range
Native to eastern and southern Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia, and also to New Zealand, where it grows in heath, swamp margins, and open forest on moist sandy or peaty soils.Suggested Uses
Used as a ground-layer fern in moist native, woodland, and bog gardens, and around pond and stream margins. Suits cool, damp rockery pockets and containers kept moist. Planted in drifts 20-30 cm (8-12 in) apart.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'
Width/Spread6" - 1'4"
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Does not flower. Reproduction is by spores borne in a continuous marginal band on fertile fronds, which ripen and release through summer and autumn.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 3-6 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
Grow in part shade to filtered sun, or full sun where soil stays moist, on acidic sandy or peaty ground that drains yet never bakes dry. Keep the root zone consistently damp, especially in the first seasons and through summer, as the fern collapses if it dries out. Mulch lightly with leaf litter to hold moisture and mimic its natural setting. Apply only weak feeding, as ferns are sensitive to strong fertiliser. Slow to spread, it knits into a low colony over several years. Cold and light frost are tolerated, but hot dry winds scorch the fronds.Pruning
Remove old, browned, or frost-marked fronds in late winter before new growth unfurls to keep the colony tidy. No other pruning is needed. Healthy green fronds are left in place, as they supply the rhizome with energy.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons