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Cheilanthes tomentosa

woolly lip fern

An evergreen fern with dark, grey-green leaves, 15-30cm long, with silvery scales underneath and purple-black stems

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Pteridaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Cheilanthes are typically evergreen ferns, producing dense clumps of small fronds on shiny, often black, stalks
Name status: Correct
Plant range: S USA, Mexico

How to grow

Cultivation

Will not tolerate winter wet. Grow in sharply-drained, gritty, humus-rich soil in full sun, with protection from winter rain. Otherwise grow under glass in full light, with low humidity and good ventilation, in a mix of equal parts peat-free, loam-based potting compost and coarse grit plus 10 percent added charcoal, and water sparingly. See how to grow ferns for further advice

Propagation

Sow spores at 16°C as soon as ripe. Division in spring is possible, but rhizomes resent disturbance

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Gravel garden
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Banks and slopes

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Fungal root rot may be a problem under glass

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