Characteristics
| Hardiness zone | 7a |
|---|---|
| Foliage type | evergreen |
| Plant form | upright spreading |
| Mature height | 24 inches |
| Spread | 18 inches |
| Light requirements | full sun |
| Moisture requirements | dry to average |
| Plant origin | North American native |
Wavy Cloak Fern
Botanical name: Cheilanthes sinuata
A variety that loves sunny, dry places; produces narrow, upright, semi-evergreen fronds with fuzzy white backs; perfect for the rock garden or containers.
Other names: Silver Wave Fern, syn. Astrolepis sinuata
Ornamental Features
Wavy Cloak Fern's attractive tomentose ferny leaves remain grayish green in color with curious white undersides throughout the year. Neither the flowers nor the fruit are ornamentally significant.
Landscape Attributes
Wavy Cloak Fern is an herbaceous evergreen fern with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.
This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Wavy Cloak Fern is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Mass Planting, Rock/Alpine Gardens, General Garden Use, Groundcover, Container Planting, Hanging Baskets
Planting and Growing
Wavy Cloak Fern will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years.
This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by division.
Wavy Cloak Fern is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
