Pellaea viridis

(syn: Cheilanthes viridis) A fern with an identity crisis. The more moderate in the Church of the First Frond claim this as Pellaea viridis, but the fundamentalist wing has judged it to be Cheilanthes viridis...the fern war continues. Regardless of your preference, it is one of many little-known sun ferns from South Africa that have yet to be properly explored for garden use. Cheilanthes viridis is found up to 6,000' elevation throughout the few remaining woodlands in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. So far, in our garden, it has made an easy-to-grow 20" tall clump of stiff, upright, rich green, bold-textured, deer-resistant foliage...very unique.