Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Fern
  
Broadleaf Evergreen, Vines
  
Origin
North America, Northeastern United States
  
India, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Southern Asia
  
Types
Not Available
  
Red pepper, Orange pepper
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Boggy areas, By seashore, Coastal Regions, Moist woods, Swamps
  
Moist Soils, orchards, Temperate Regions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-8
  
8-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
8-1
  
12 - 1
  
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Not Available
  
Lemon yellow
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Red, Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Light Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
  
Light Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
  
Light Green, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
  
Circular cordate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Not Available
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought, Wet Site
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Container, Ground
  
How to Plant?
Divison, Spores
  
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply
  
Do Not over Water, Sprinkle water over foliage, Water every two or three days during warmer months
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
A hard prune may be necessary if the plant becomes woody, Remove dead branches, Trim each shoot back to the first set of leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
10-10-10 diluted liquid fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Do not let fertilizers touch the leaves
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Aphids, Beetles, Root rot, Rust, Scab
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction
  
Flowers
None
  
Not Available
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
Yes
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Insects
  
Aphids, Leafminer, Snails, Squirrels
  
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, coma, Eye irritation, weakness
  
Oral Allergy
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Decorating walls
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Acne, Blackheads
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Fixes Nitrogen, Insect Repellent
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Nutrients
  
Acid Reflux, Dysentry, Healthy teeth, Inflammation, Oral health
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
  
Dried seeds
  
Other Uses
Air freshner, Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Culinary use, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Used in herbal medicines
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
POLYSTICHUM acrostichoides
  
Piper nigrum
  
Common Name
Not Available
  
Peppercorn, Piper, Black pepper
  
In Hindi
Christmas Fern
  
काली मिर्च
  
In German
Christmas Fern
  
Pfeffer
  
In French
polystic faux-acrostic
  
Piper nigrum
  
In Spanish
Christmas Fern
  
Poivrier noir
  
In Greek
Christmas Fern
  
μαύρο πιπέρι
  
In Portuguese
Christmas Fern
  
Pimenta-preta
  
In Polish
Christmas Fern
  
Pieprz czarny
  
In Latin
Christmas Fern
  
nigrum piperis
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Filicinophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Filicopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Filicales
  
Piperales
  
Family
Dryopteridaceae
  
Piperaceae
  
Genus
Polystichum
  
Piper
  
Clade
Not Available
  
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available