{"product_id":"blechnum-penna-marina","title":"Alpine Water Fern - Blechnum penna-marina","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrice includes everything:\u003c\/strong\u003e the plant, free delivery and professional installation by our planting team. One price, whole job done.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAlpine Water Fern - Blechnum penna-marina\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a fern used as a carpet rather than a specimen. \u003cem\u003eBlechnum penna-marina\u003c\/em\u003e creeps by a thin surface rhizome and sends up small, stiff, ladder-like fronds only 15 to 25cm high, knitting into a dense mat that behaves more like a groundcover than a fern. It comes from alpine and sub-antarctic country, which is why it succeeds in cold Tasmanian and highland gardens where softer ferns burn off over winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eWhy Alpine Water Fern\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMat Forming Habit\u003c\/strong\u003e: A creeping rhizome fills gaps steadily, so a planting closes into continuous cover without any gap filling.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCoppery New Fronds\u003c\/strong\u003e: Fresh growth emerges bronze to reddish before darkening, giving a two tone effect through spring.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGenuine Cold Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e: It handles hard frost, snow and cold saturated soil that would kill most ornamental ferns.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLow Profile\u003c\/strong\u003e: At knee height and below, it never obstructs a view, a path edge or a step.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSun Tolerance in Cool Climates\u003c\/strong\u003e: Unusually for a fern it accepts open positions in Tasmania, Victoria and the tablelands provided moisture is steady.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eIdeal Applications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShaded Lawn Substitute\u003c\/strong\u003e: A practical green carpet for cool shaded areas where turf thins out and fails.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBetween Stepping Stones\u003c\/strong\u003e: Low and tough enough to knit around pavers and stone steps in a shaded courtyard.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUnder Deciduous Trees\u003c\/strong\u003e: Copes with winter sun and summer shade beneath maples, birches and ornamental pears.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRock Garden and Wall Bases\u003c\/strong\u003e: Threads through cool crevices and along the damp base of retaining walls.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eSpecimen \u0026amp; Installation\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing (screening\/hedge):\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.3 to 0.4m for full cover within two seasons\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing (feature\/avenue):\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.5m where a looser, patchier drift is wanted\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBest Planting Season:\u003c\/strong\u003e Autumn and early spring, so roots establish before summer heat\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil \u0026amp; Drainage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cool, acidic, humus rich soil that stays moist; it will not tolerate hot dry sandy ground\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEstablishment Care:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water regularly through the first two summers, as the shallow rhizome dries out faster than deeper rooted plants. Keep a fine leaf litter mulch between plants until they close over, and hand weed rather than hoe so the surface rhizomes are not cut.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003ePlant Details\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.15 to 0.25m, with fertile fronds to about 0.3m\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.4 to 0.6m per plant, spreading indefinitely by rhizome\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evergreen\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Part shade in most districts; full sun is tolerated in cool climates with reliable moisture\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative to:\u003c\/strong\u003e Alpine and cool temperate south eastern Australia including Tasmania, New Zealand and southern South America\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower Colour:\u003c\/strong\u003e None, spore bearing\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Direct","offers":[{"title":"400mm","offer_id":59795381682462,"sku":"ND-0232-400MM","price":800.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1000\/2536\/8862\/files\/DeItx6_kPfvtWOttn9SHD_ormfnTat.jpg?v=1787314717","url":"https:\/\/nurserydirect.com.au\/products\/blechnum-penna-marina","provider":"Nursery Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}