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Goldback fern

Pentagramma

Also called Silverback Fern

Goldback fern
Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0

Pentagramma is a small genus of North American ferns, including the goldback or silverback fern, which has a powdery gold or silver coating on its lower leaf surfaces. Grow the commonly cultivated species in a sunny spot with well-drained soil, as they tolerate dry conditions well.

Family
Pteridaceae (Maidenhair fern family)
Grows as
Fern
Light
Full sun, Part shade
Water
Water sparingly and let the soil dry between waterings, since these ferns resist drought.
Soil
Fast-draining, gritty or rocky soil.
Temperature
Hardy in mild climates; protect from hard frost.
How easy
Easy

About

Pentagramma is a small genus of North American ferns in the family Pteridaceae. Until 1990 members of this genus were included in Pityrogramma, and there has been considerable disagreement regarding the species' taxonomy. In the most recent treatment, six diploid species are recognized.

The distribution of P. triangularis (goldback fern) extends from British Columbia through the western United States into Baja California in northwestern Mexico. Pentagramma maxonii occurs in New Mexico, Arizona, Sonora, Baja California Sur, California, and Baja California. All other species are restricted to California and Baja California.

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Pentagramma by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

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