Response of Hardy Ferns to Drought Stress

Abstract

Drought-tolerant perennials are intensively sought-after plants for decorative purposes. Perennial ferns are cold-hardy cultivars that are great for shady to partially shaded areas of the garden, but their response to drought stress is unknown. In this study, we examined how reduced watering altered the growth of Athyrium niponicum ‘Red Beauty’, Cyrtomium fortunei ‘Clivicola’, Dryopteris atrata, Dryopteris erythrosora, Dryoperis filix-mas, Dryoperis filix-mas ‘Linearis Polydactylon’, and Polystichum setiferum ‘Proliferum’ in comparison with optimal watering conditions. From among the seven fern taxa, Athyrium niponicum ‘Red Beauty’ and Dryoperis filix-mas turned out to be the most sensitive to reduced watering, and they demonstrated leaf browning and drying. Little visual leaf damage was observed in Cyrtomium fortunei ‘Clivicola’, Dryopteris erythrosora, and Polystichum setiferum ‘Proliferum’.