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Cheilanthes lanosa
Hairy lipfern
Cheilanthes lanosa is a soft-textured fern with fuzzy green leaflets along a chestnut brown stipe. It is a great choice for rock walls and shady trough gardens, but performs beautifully in average well-drained garden soil and in containers with regular potting mix. Hairy Lip Fern can also be grown as a "nook and cranny" plant that you can tuck into rock walls and othe tight spaces. Perfect respite for woodland animals when grouped.
Benefits
- Unusual fern that prefers sun and hot, dry conditions
- Provided cover for small mammals and reptiles
- Easy to grow, looks great tucked into rock walls
- Covered with scales or hairs to slow water loss
- Winter hardy but needs protection from wet conditions
Homeowner Growing and Maintenance Tips
Hairy Lip Fern is commonly found on cliffs and in gravel, so drainage is key to its survival. It prefers soil or loose scree that is of neutral or somewhat acidic pH. It tolerates several hours of sun, but is more often found in bright shade. Though very tolerant of drought, it will grow best with excellent drainage and consistent, but sparing water.
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USDA Hardiness Zone 5-8
Native Range
Kansas to Connecticut, south to the Gulf Coast on rocky granitic slopes and ledges.
Native Trivia
The species name 'lanosa' means "wooly" or "softly hairy" - an accurate description of the frond surface which is an adaptation to dry conditions.
Characteristics & Attributes
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