How to Care for Foxtail Ferns in Fall and Winter
Foxtail ferns are bushy, dense, and gorgeous! Their green fronds decorate gardens in warm climates, and they’re stunning when they arch out of containers and planters. Give these perennials the right care this season so they survive the cold months to come.
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Foxtail fern fronds look like fox tails, hence the name. They’re bushy and conical with narrow tips that form tail-like growths. Mature plants develop ornamental red berries that last through the winter in frost-free climates.
This fern-like perennial needs warm temperatures to survive the winter. Its fronds will die to the ground after a light frost, and the roots are marginally hardy from 20 to 25°F (-7 to -4°C). If temperatures go lower than this range in your area, you’ll want to bring your ferns indoors.
No matter where you live, your foxtail ferns benefit from fall and winter care this season to prepare for the cold. Give them what they need now so they grow well the rest of the year!
What are Foxtail Ferns?
Foxtail ferns are varieties of Asparagus densiflorus. This species isn’t a true fern; it’s actually a type of asparagus. It’s not edible despite being closely related to the edible species, A. officinalis. Use it as an ornamental perennial for bright, green color.
Fern Look-Alikes
Though they’re not true ferns, foxtail plants resemble them. Their stems sprout dense clusters of needle-like leaves, and they create long branches that look like fern fronds. The stems emerge from underground roots that thicken and swell over time.
The tough roots will regenerate fresh fronds if the old ones die. To keep the plant compact and bushy, you can snip the fronds’ tips. Or, cut the fronds to the ground and keep the soil moist while new ones regenerate.
With vigorous roots and an easy-growing nature, foxtail ferns are perfect for beginners and experienced growers alike. They’ll easily recover from a bout of overwatering or underwatering, and they’re resilient in poor growing conditions.
Foxtail Fern Varieties
The most common foxtail fern variety is ‘Myersii.’ This is the common cultivar that most growers think of when they hear the name. It forms two-foot-high stems with many needle-like leaves.
A winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1993, ‘Myersii’ is the gold standard when it comes to foxtail fern cultivation. It looks great in containers, and it overwinters well indoors or outside in mild climates.
‘Sprengeri Compacta’ stays short when mature, though its fronds tend to flop over. It looks its best in a hanging basket or planter where its stems can arch over the edges. ‘Sprengeri’ is larger, with longer stems that are similarly floppy.
Fall and Winter Care for Foxtail Ferns
Foxtail ferns need fall and winter care to help them survive the short days and cold temperatures to come. Prepare potted plants, transplant in-ground specimens, and get outdoor plants ready for overwintering. No matter your situation, we’ll cover what to do for healthy foxtail ferns this fall and winter.
Move Potted Plants Indoors
Foxtail ferns are winter-hardy in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11. They’ll stay evergreen in frost-free climates, and they’ll die back to their roots when temperatures drop between 20 and 25°F (-7 and -4°C). New growth will resprout in spring if the roots survive the winter.
To guarantee your plants survive from fall through winter, bring potted specimens indoors in cold climates. They’ll thrive near a window with bright, indirect sunlight, or under grow lights in a dark room. Water them regularly to keep the soil moist, but not soggy.
The ferns will need less moisture from fall through winter, especially while they’re adapting to the indoors. Check the soil with your finger regularly. Water if it’s dry underneath, and wait to water if it’s wet underneath.
Transplant In-Ground Ferns
In zones 8 and below, you’ll want to transplant in-ground ferns into pots for overwintering. They won’t survive frosts and hard freezes, and they’ll need a protected environment indoors to thrive. First, move them into pots well before fall, then bring them inside before the weather turns chilly.
Start by digging the plants up with a shovel or hand trowel. Dig into the soil a few inches outside of the fronds to ensure you remove as many roots as possible, and excavate them carefully to keep the leafy fronds attached.
You may split large clumps into multiple portions for uppotting. Divide the roots with a sharp scalpel or pruners, and place each division in its own container with fresh soil. Water the plants well, and keep them in partial shade while they adapt to the pots.
The ferns should be ready for indoor living after two weeks. Let them establish themselves, then begin moving them inside well before the first frost arrives.
Treat for Pests
Over the spring and summer, pests may target the dense growth on your ferns. Watch for spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, and slugs. Before moving any plant indoors, remove the pests to ensure they don’t spread inside your home.
Start by hosing off the leaves with a strong blast of water. Do this daily for a week or two until the pests disappear. Check below the pot for slugs and snails, and remove them if you see them hiding.
If this care won’t reduce massive pest outbreaks, simply trim the infested fronds to let new ones grow. Also, remove any dead or damaged stems to encourage healthy, fresh fronds.
Protect Outdoor Specimens
Outdoors, protect your in-ground specimens with mulch. Mulch insulates and feeds the ferns to help bolster them against fall and winter weather. Use an organic mulch like compost, leaf mold, or straw.
If you’re choosing to keep your potted plants outside, you’ll also want to protect them for winter. Care for outdoor potted ferns with frost cloth, burlap, and mulch. Add mulch to the soil, wrap the bottom of the container with burlap, and cover the leafy top growth with frost cloth on frigid nights.
Don’t worry if the leaves die off. New growth will likely appear after the winter when the weather warms. Keep protecting your potted or in-ground plants, and wait until the spring season before giving up on them.
Trim the Fronds
Foxtail ferns appreciate a light trim before the fall. Snip their tips to promote bushy growth through the winter. If the fronds are too long, cut them back to the ground, but leave a few small ones remaining.
Trimming prevents the stems from growing larger indoors. If you have the space for tall ferns, leave them unpruned! Otherwise, cut them back so they tuck in to your home without imposing on your space.
Forget the Fertilizer
As the plants transition from active growth to semi-dormancy in the fall and winter, they’ll need less water, nutrients, and light than they’re used to. Don’t fertilize them if you’re bringing them indoors, and avoid fertilizing outdoor specimens after the fall season.
Fertilizer will promote new stems that are more frost-tender than the older ones. They’ll suffer from cold damage. Wait until after the winter before fertilizing your specimens. Do so when they’re actively pushing out new growth during the growing season.
Key Takeaways
- Care for these faux ferns by preparing them for the cold of fall and winter. Ensure they survive by protecting them from ice, snow, and hard freezes.
- Watch for pests, cold damage, and diseases as the fall season approaches. Avoid overwatering by growing the ferns in well-drained potting soil.
- Note that foxtail fern plants are invasive in some regions of the U.S. Grow them in containers to prevent their spread, and plant a cultivar like ‘Myersii’ that’s less invasive than the species.
- Potted specimens benefit from bright, indirect light indoors. Set them near a window, or use grow lights to boost the brightness.
