Little Hard Fern

Botanical name: Austroblechnum penna-marina subsp. alpina
Synonyms: Blechnum penna-marina subsp. alpina, Blechnum alpinum, Lomaria alpina
Common name(s): Little Hard Fern, Alpine Hard Fern, Alpine Water Fern

About:
A small creeping alpine fern with finely divided fronds and a dense turf-forming habit. This hardy species is widespread through southern temperate and subantarctic regions and is highly adapted to cool moist environments.

Natural habitat:
Occurs naturally in alpine herbfields, subalpine scrub, grasslands, mossfields, coastal turf, open forest, rocky outcrops, stream terraces, and damp montane environments.

Growing environment:
Full sun to partial shade, Cool climates, Moist soils & Frost tolerant.
Thrives in damp humus-rich soils with good moisture retention and cool root conditions.

Indigenous distribution:
Indigenous to New Zealand, Australia, South America, Macquarie Island, and various circum-Antarctic islands.
In New Zealand found from lowland to alpine regions throughout the North, South, Stewart, Chatham, Auckland, Campbell, and Antipodes Islands.

Height:
Approximately 0.04–0.12 m tall

Width:
Forms spreading turf-like colonies over time

Flowering:
Not applicable — spore producing fern

Fruiting:
Not applicable — reproduces via spores

Uses:

• Alpine and rock gardens
• Groundcover planting
• Moss and fern gardens
• Subalpine restoration
• Damp bank stabilisation
• Container planting

Appearance:

Growth habit:
A creeping rhizomatous fern forming low dense mats or turf-like colonies.

Leaves:
Sterile fronds are small, narrow, and pinnate with rounded to triangular pinnae arranged closely along the rachis.

Fertile fronds:
Fertile fronds are narrower, more erect, and carry slender linear pinnae bearing spores.

Colour:
Fronds are generally deep green with reddish-brown stipes and scales near the base.

Ecology:
An important component of alpine and subantarctic ecosystems where it forms dense low vegetation across moist open ground and rocky herbfields.

Associated wildlife:
Subject to browsing by endemic alpine grasshoppers including Brachaspis nivalis, Paprides nitidus, and Sigaus australis.

How to grow:
Best planted in moist free-draining soil in cool shaded or open alpine conditions. Performs well in rock gardens, alpine troughs, damp woodland settings, and mossy environments.

Propagation:
Easily propagated from fresh spores or by division of established rhizomes and creeping colonies.

Garden value:
A highly attractive small native fern valued for its fine texture, low spreading habit, and exceptional hardiness. Excellent for alpine gardens, shaded groundcover, moss gardens, and cool-climate native plantings.