Cheilanthes lanosa
Blooming Time
Exposure
Hairy lip fern is an interesting and fascinating fern for use in sunny as well as lightly shaded sites (not normally where you’d expect to be growing ferns). This is a nice change… to have a fern, with fernlike texture and shape, growing in the sun! Hairy lip fern can do this because of the fuzzy coating that protects its olive-green fronds from sun scorch and drought. It forms neat compact clumps over time, and is usually left alone by deer.
Details
Hardiness Zone:
Blossom Color:
Growth Habit:
Clump Forming
Max Height:
12"
Texture:
Recommended Spacing:
We sell this plant in these containers:
Special Characteristics
Features
Delicate fuzzy, olive green fronds form neat clumps.
Landscape Value
Neat compact clumps are drought and sun tolerant.
Care
Watering:
Hairy Lip Fern is very drought tolerant and typically only needs watering during the hottest days of summer.
Fertilizing:
Hairy Lip Fern needs little fertilizer, but benefits from a single springtime or fall topdressing (about 1 inch deep) of organic compost or well rotted leaves. Alternatively, a springtime application of a slow release fertilizer with a 3-1-2 ratio (such as a 15-5-10) can be applied at a rate of about 10 pounds per 1000 square feet.
Pruning:
Hairy Lip Fern is a deciduous plant (nonevergreen) and does not require pruning. It is perfectly acceptable to allow the dropped leaves to decompose and nourish the soil.