Pleopeltis polypodioides aka Resurrection Fern

Pleopeltis polypodioides is a fern that lives for many years. It belongs to the polypody family. Its common name is resurrection fern. It comes from southern Mexico and tropical America, including southern Florida. It grows on tree bark and rock faces. Older accounts mix it up with another fern from southeastern America. NC State names that fern Pleopeltis michauxii. Keep this in mind when reading older claims about range. It also matters for claims about how much cold it withstands.

This small fern stays green all year. It grows at a slow pace in spreading clumps. Its creeping growth suits logs, rocks, and mounted displays. Plants reach about 0.5–1 foot (0.15–0.30 metres) tall. They spread about 0.5–1.3 feet (0.15–0.40 metres). The green fronds feel tough, like leather. Each leaf blade has six to twenty oblong parts. These parts are longer than they are wide. Round gaps divide them, and the blade has a blunt tip. Small fronds lie flat, with scales on their undersides. Each frond's stalk is about half as long as its blade. The stems are green and have no scent.

Dry weather makes the fronds curl and look dead. Rain helps them open and start making food again. This change gives the fern its common name. The plant makes no flowers or fruit. It makes new plants through spores instead. Its leaves have a fine texture. They give the plant its main appeal. Dry spells can hide the green leaves until rain returns. This change with rain differs from a seasonal show of flowers. The leaves give gardeners the change they see.

NC State suggests pots, hanging baskets, or cork or driftwood mounts. Give it enough light all year. The source suggests a window facing east or south, or grow lights. Its table of growing needs also lists several levels of shade. Water often while the fern takes hold on its support. Once it takes hold, it can cope with long dry spells. Use small amounts of liquid houseplant feed. On rocky sites, give it moisture and good drainage. NC State says it cannot survive North Carolina winters. Bring outdoor pots inside well before the first frost.

The fern suits shaded rock gardens and small leaf displays. It can grow on leaning trunks, fallen logs, and stumps. NC State also lists it as a food source for wildlife. Deer, wind, and heavy shade cause few problems. The source reports no major pests or diseases. Still, watch for the Florida fern caterpillar. Its care table gives it a high rating for upkeep. The supplied facts do not show whether humans can eat it. They also do not establish whether it is toxic.