Ribbon Fern

Pteris
A genus of mostly tropical Ferns with exception of Pteris cretica which thrives in milder temperate climates.

Pteris cretica ( Cretan Brake Fern )
Hardy zone 8 to 10 excluding it from all but the Deep South, the cultivar 'Western Hills' is much more hardy with great promise in extending its range. Cretan Brake Fern is native from Kashmir to central China to Japan; south to Sri Lanka to most of Vietnam, Leos and Camboria as well as the Phillipines. It is also native to part of Europe, southwest Asia, Africa, Fiji & Hawaii.
The bright green fronds can reach as much as 24 x 14 inches in size.

'Albo Lineata'
Attractive silvery-centered variegated foliage.

* photo taken on July 13 2021 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey, PA

* photo taken on May 24 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 19 2023 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey, PA

'Western Hills' ( Hardy Ribbon Fern )
A vigorous, cold hardy clone originating from the mountains of Yunnan Province of China at around 9000 foot elevation. On ideal sites, it can reach as much as 3 x 5 feet in just 5 years. The light green evergreen leaflets are up to 16 inches in length.
Hardy zones 6 to 9, the evergreen foliage is undamaged by cold down to 8 F.

* photo taken on 4th of July @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.



* photo taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

Pteris vittata 'Benzilan' ( Chinese Table Fern )
A huge, deciduous clumping fern, reaching up to 3 x 8 feet in 10 years, eventually broader. It is native to temperate and tropical Asia as well as moist parts of Africa. It is often found growing in rock crevices and walls, through much dwarfted in size.
The pinnate fronds are composed of smooth-edged, long, narrow lance-shaped leaflets.
Hardy zones 7b to 9, it may be invasive in parts of Florida but makes a great landscape plant in other parts of the southeast.

Pteris wallichiana
A stunning, rhizomatous, large fern, reaching up to 6.5 feet in height, that is a widspread native of the Himalayas, southern China, Japan, the Phillipines & southeast Asia. The triangular, finely-divided fronds are deep green.
Hardy zones 7b to 11.

‘Hualien Giant’
A stunning form introduced by the famous Plant Delights Nursery in North Carolina, can grow even larger, up to 8 feet in height.