Pleopeltis michauxiana
resurrection fern
Southeastern United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean
Overview
Pleopeltis michauxiana is a small evergreen fern, formerly grouped under Polypodium polypodioides, that grows as an epiphyte on tree bark, rocks, and old wood. Its leathery fronds are 2-8 inches (5-20 cm) long and 0.5-1.5 inches (1.5-4 cm) wide, deeply cut into rounded lobes, dark green above and coated below with tiny gray-brown scales. It creeps across surfaces on slender, scaly rhizomes, forming loose mats rather than a single crown. The common name comes from its response to drought: in dry spells the fronds curl inward, turn gray-brown, and appear dead, then unfurl and green up within hours of rain. Round spore clusters (sori) line the undersides of the lobes and release spores in summer and fall. The fern takes no water or nutrients from its host, using it only for support. It grows slowly and is sensitive to air pollution, so it is most common in humid, unpolluted woodland. Hard freezes and prolonged drought can kill exposed mats, though established colonies are long-lived.
Native Range
Pleopeltis michauxiana is native to the southeastern United States, north to the mid-Atlantic and west to Texas, and into Mexico and the Caribbean. It grows in humid woodlands, perched on the limbs and trunks of hardwood trees, especially live oak, and on shaded rock.Suggested Uses
Grown by fern and epiphyte enthusiasts mounted on bark, driftwood, or stone in shaded, humid spots and shade houses. Outdoors in mild climates it colonizes tree limbs, walls, and boulders as a living cover on hard surfaces. It is also studied as an example of desiccation-tolerant plants.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 8"
Width/Spread6" - 2'
Bloom Information
As a fern, Pleopeltis michauxiana does not flower. It reproduces by spores borne in round sori on the frond undersides, which ripen and release from summer into fall. New plants also arise as the rhizomes branch and spread across the substrate.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 1-5 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
Pleopeltis michauxiana grows in part shade to full shade with high humidity and steady air movement. In cultivation it is grown on bark slabs, mounted wood, or in shallow, very free-draining mixes rather than ordinary potting soil, since it is an epiphyte. It tolerates repeated drying, curling up when dry and reviving when moisture returns, so brief neglect does little harm. Misting or rainfall keeps the fronds open and growing. It is hardy in USDA zones 6-10 and withstands light frost, though hard freezes on exposed mats cause damage. Clean, unpolluted air and steady humidity matter more than feeding, which is rarely needed.Pruning
No pruning is required. Dead or damaged fronds can be trimmed from the mat at any time. Sections of rhizome with attached fronds can be lifted and remounted to start new plants.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons