Pellaea mucronata
bird's foot cliffbrake
Western United States and northern Mexico
Overview
Pellaea mucronata is a small, tufted evergreen fern 4-16 inches (10-40 cm) tall, growing from a short, scaly rhizome into dense clumps on rock. The fronds are stiff and leathery, blue-grey to grey-green, and divided two or three times into many small, firm segments 0.1-0.25 inch (3-6 mm) long, each tipped with a short, sharp point. The wiry stalks are dark brown to nearly black and shiny, holding the divided blades upright. As a fern, it reproduces by spores carried in narrow bands rolled under the segment margins, rather than by flowers or seed. It grows on dry, rocky slopes, cliffs, and crevices in full sun, tolerating heat and prolonged drought by curling its segments during the driest months. The species occurs in California and the wider western United States into northern Mexico, on granite, serpentine, and other rocky substrates. A limitation in cultivation is its need for sharp drainage, since the rhizome rots in heavy or persistently wet soil.
Native Range
Pellaea mucronata is native to the western United States and northern Mexico, centred on California and extending into Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and Baja California. It grows on dry, rocky outcrops and slopes from foothills into mountains.Suggested Uses
Grown in rock gardens, crevice gardens, dry stone walls, and containers for its stiff, blue-grey, drought-tolerant fronds, spaced 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) apart. Suited to hot, rocky banks and gravel gardens with sharp drainage. The clumps add evergreen texture to dry, sunny plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'4"
Width/Spread6" - 1'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Colors
Foliage Colors
Fall Foliage Colors
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
blue-greyGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-12 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
Pellaea mucronata grows in full sun to light shade and dry, fast-draining, rocky or gravelly soil. It is grown from spores or by division of established clumps, set among rocks where the rhizome can anchor. The fern tolerates heat and long dry spells, curling its segments to conserve water and reviving after rain. It needs little or no summer water and declines in rich, moist, or poorly drained ground. Sharp drainage and lean soil are central to keeping the rhizome sound.Pruning
No routine pruning is needed. Dead or weather-worn fronds are trimmed away at the base in late winter before new growth unfurls. Old fronds can otherwise be left to shelter the crown.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons