Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Blechnum chilense
Chinese Hard Fern
- Family
- Blechnaceae
- Height
- 3 to 5 feet
- Width
- 3 to 5 feet
- Flower color
- Non-flowering fern
- Foliage color
- Evergreen; new fronds emerge orange-bronze, maturing to dark green
- Bloom time
- Not applicable
- Light
- Partial shade to full shade
- Water
- Regular
- Maintenance
- Low; in colder climates, leaving fronds as mulch in winter can be beneficial
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 7a to 10b
- Wildlife
- Not applicable
About this plant
Blechnum chilense, commonly known as the Chilean hard fern, is a bold evergreen fern with large, leathery fronds that create a lush, tropical appearance. The fronds emerge as a bright coppery-red before maturing to deep green, adding seasonal interest and contrast. Unlike flowering plants, this fern reproduces via spores found on the undersides of its fronds rather than producing blooms.
Native to Chile and parts of western South America, Blechnum chilense thrives in temperate woodland environments where it forms dense clumps over time. Its robust nature and ability to create a dramatic foliage display make it a valuable choice for shaded gardens, borders, and naturalized landscapes. The rich texture and year-round presence of its fronds provide depth and structure in a variety of garden settings.
Works well in
Borders · Shade Gardens · Woodland Gardens · Rain Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens
Companion plants
Wild ginger · Hellebores · Japanese forest grass · Astilbes · Heucheras · Siberian bugloss
Design tip
Foliage and form do most of the work here, so lean on texture and repetition rather than one flowering moment. Cooler light suits it, so tuck it on the north side of a shrub or wall where the soil stays even.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Washington Park Arboretum.
