Astrolepis windhamii (Windham's Cloak Fern)

Sun to Part SunZone: 7-9, at least 12" tall Origin: USA

Open House/Web-Only! (syn: Notholaena windhamii) This recently described apogamous (sexually self actualized) species of desert fern is thought to have speciated from a horticultural menage-a-trois of A. cochisensis, A. sinuata, and a third party yet-to-be-named. A. windhamii occurs on both alkaline and acidic soils, up to 5,500' elevation from West Texas west through Arizona. A. windhamii resembles A. sinuata except that the pinnae (fern leaves) are more rounded and the leaf lobes shallower. A well drained spot in the rock garden is perfect for this tight clumper, whose rigidly upright brown-backed olive green fronds reach 1' tall. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)