Japanese Climbing Fern (Lygodium japonicum)

Japanese Climbing Fern is an excellent container plant for shady areas and with its vining habit, it has a place in any potted plant collection. Native to Southeast Asia, it is hardy to zone 8 and has a seasonal growth cycle that allows it to be maintained at a modest size when grown in a container. The segmented leaflets emerge from the climbing stem, that is actually the entire leaf, giving it a soft dense look. When grown in southern gardens, the vine can extend many feet and become invasive, yet when grown in a container, the size is restricted and so it becomes manageable. Once new growth starts in late winter, our mother plant is cut to the soil level every year and the cycle of growth begins again. An enduring plant, Japanese Climbing Fern withstands the stress from being grown in a container and still creates a beautiful potted specimen.