Christmas fern
Polystichum acrostichoides (Michx.) Schott
Christmas fern in all of Ohio- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Phylum
- Tracheophyta
- Class
- Polypodiopsida
- Order
- Polypodiales
- Family
- Dryopteridaceae
- Genus
- Polystichum
Range
Where it is recorded
Season shown in 1 of Ohio's 88 counties. Explore Ohio
- No result yet (20)
- Recorded, too few records for a result (41)
- Recorded, season not shown (26)
- Season shown (1)
Counties as a table
| County | Records |
|---|---|
| Adams County | 46 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Allen County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Ashland County | 41 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Ashtabula County | 20 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Athens County | 585 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Auglaize County | No qualifying records yet |
| Belmont County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Brown County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Butler County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Carroll County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Champaign County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Clark County | No qualifying records yet |
| Clermont County | 81 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Clinton County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Columbiana County | 25 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Coshocton County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Crawford County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Cuyahoga County | 207 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Darke County | No qualifying records yet |
| Defiance County | No qualifying records yet |
| Delaware County | 28 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Erie County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Fairfield County | 36 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Fayette County | No qualifying records yet |
| Franklin County | 22 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Fulton County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Gallia County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Geauga County | 69 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Greene County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Guernsey County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Hamilton County | 136 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Hancock County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Hardin County | No qualifying records yet |
| Harrison County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Henry County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Highland County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Hocking County | 189 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Holmes County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Huron County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Jackson County | 24 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Jefferson County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Knox County | 25 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Lake County | 75 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Lawrence County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Licking County | 41 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Logan County | No qualifying records yet |
| Lorain County | 23 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Lucas County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Madison County | No qualifying records yet |
| Mahoning County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Marion County | No qualifying records yet |
| Medina County | 45 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Meigs County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Mercer County | No qualifying records yet |
| Miami County | No qualifying records yet |
| Monroe County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Montgomery County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Morgan County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Morrow County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Muskingum County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Noble County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Ottawa County | No qualifying records yet |
| Paulding County | No qualifying records yet |
| Perry County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Pickaway County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Pike County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Portage County | 60 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Preble County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Putnam County | No qualifying records yet |
| Richland County | 34 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Ross County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Sandusky County | No qualifying records yet |
| Scioto County | 32 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Seneca County | No qualifying records yet |
| Shelby County | No qualifying records yet |
| Stark County | 54 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Summit County | 321 · Season shown |
| Trumbull County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Tuscarawas County | 26 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Union County | No qualifying records yet |
| Van Wert County | No qualifying records yet |
| Vinton County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Warren County | 35 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Washington County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Wayne County | 36 · Recorded, season not shown |
| Williams County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
| Wood County | No qualifying records yet |
| Wyandot County | Recorded, too few records for a result |
No mapped range from the range source used, the USGS Gap Analysis Project, which maps land vertebrates only.
Season
When it is recorded
In Hocking County
Early February to late June, middle week late April, and again late July to mid-December, middle week mid-October
Recorded in two separate seasons, each shown with its own early, middle and late weeks.
Records per week from 189 records in 10 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025. Shows when people recorded it, not a season or how common it is.
Show as a table
| Week | Records of Christmas fern | Years recorded | Records of all species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 4–10 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| Jan 11–17 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| Jan 18–24 | 1 | 1 | 28 |
| Jan 25–31 | 2 | 2 | 39 |
| Feb 1–7 | 1 | 1 | 46 |
| Feb 8–14 | 1 | 1 | 31 |
| Feb 15–21 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Feb 22–28 | 2 | 2 | 50 |
| Mar 1–7 | 1 | 1 | 68 |
| Mar 8–14 | 3 | 1 | 95 |
| Mar 15–21 | 1 | 1 | 90 |
| Mar 22–28 | 4 | 3 | 164 |
| Mar 29 – Apr 4 | 5 | 3 | 257 |
| Apr 5–11 | 1 | 1 | 327 |
| Apr 12–18 | 4 | 2 | 414 |
| Apr 19–25 | 5 | 3 | 682 |
| Apr 26 – May 2 | 19 | 5 | 761 |
| May 3–9 | 3 | 2 | 367 |
| May 10–16 | 5 | 3 | 481 |
| May 17–23 | 3 | 2 | 491 |
| May 24–30 | 2 | 2 | 509 |
| May 31 – Jun 6 | 5 | 1 | 403 |
| Jun 7–13 | 1 | 1 | 587 |
| Jun 14–20 | 5 | 4 | 710 |
| Jun 21–27 | 2 | 2 | 851 |
| Jun 28 – Jul 4 | 2 | 2 | 559 |
| Jul 5–11 | 1 | 1 | 937 |
| Jul 12–18 | 0 | 0 | 581 |
| Jul 19–25 | 5 | 3 | 707 |
| Jul 26 – Aug 1 | 1 | 1 | 548 |
| Aug 2–8 | 4 | 3 | 613 |
| Aug 9–15 | 4 | 3 | 594 |
| Aug 16–22 | 3 | 3 | 641 |
| Aug 23–29 | 0 | 0 | 411 |
| Aug 30 – Sep 5 | 2 | 2 | 459 |
| Sep 6–12 | 1 | 1 | 341 |
| Sep 13–19 | 9 | 5 | 547 |
| Sep 20–26 | 4 | 2 | 357 |
| Sep 27 – Oct 3 | 5 | 4 | 288 |
| Oct 4–10 | 1 | 1 | 214 |
| Oct 11–17 | 12 | 3 | 436 |
| Oct 18–24 | 18 | 6 | 576 |
| Oct 25–31 | 12 | 6 | 221 |
| Nov 1–7 | 9 | 3 | 459 |
| Nov 8–14 | 8 | 4 | 141 |
| Nov 15–21 | 2 | 2 | 84 |
| Nov 22–28 | 1 | 1 | 86 |
| Nov 29 – Dec 5 | 2 | 2 | 102 |
| Dec 6–12 | 0 | 0 | 39 |
| Dec 13–19 | 2 | 2 | 44 |
| Dec 20–26 | 3 | 3 | 86 |
| Dec 27 – Jan 2 | 2 | 1 | 106 |
Reported in flower
No records here show flowers yet, so there is no flowering season to show. One needs at least 20 records from 5 different years.
Reported in fruit
No records here show fruit yet, so there is no fruiting season to show. One needs at least 20 records from 5 different years.
In Ohio
Late February to late July, middle week early May, and again late August to late December, middle week late September
Recorded in two separate seasons, each shown with its own early, middle and late weeks.
Records per week from 3,491 records in 10 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025. Shows when people recorded it, not a season or how common it is.
Show as a table
| Week | Records of Christmas fern | Years recorded | Records of all species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 4–10 | 21 | 5 | 6,211 |
| Jan 11–17 | 15 | 6 | 5,146 |
| Jan 18–24 | 8 | 4 | 4,645 |
| Jan 25–31 | 26 | 10 | 4,698 |
| Feb 1–7 | 29 | 6 | 6,023 |
| Feb 8–14 | 25 | 6 | 5,888 |
| Feb 15–21 | 20 | 4 | 5,436 |
| Feb 22–28 | 27 | 7 | 6,846 |
| Mar 1–7 | 34 | 6 | 8,321 |
| Mar 8–14 | 55 | 8 | 10,384 |
| Mar 15–21 | 37 | 8 | 12,620 |
| Mar 22–28 | 68 | 9 | 13,949 |
| Mar 29 – Apr 4 | 63 | 8 | 19,661 |
| Apr 5–11 | 72 | 9 | 26,860 |
| Apr 12–18 | 112 | 10 | 39,925 |
| Apr 19–25 | 145 | 10 | 41,623 |
| Apr 26 – May 2 | 247 | 10 | 56,391 |
| May 3–9 | 166 | 10 | 52,952 |
| May 10–16 | 93 | 9 | 53,785 |
| May 17–23 | 100 | 10 | 57,698 |
| May 24–30 | 88 | 10 | 54,651 |
| May 31 – Jun 6 | 111 | 10 | 53,099 |
| Jun 7–13 | 69 | 8 | 53,700 |
| Jun 14–20 | 94 | 10 | 56,625 |
| Jun 21–27 | 43 | 9 | 55,361 |
| Jun 28 – Jul 4 | 48 | 9 | 58,477 |
| Jul 5–11 | 48 | 8 | 61,336 |
| Jul 12–18 | 49 | 7 | 64,722 |
| Jul 19–25 | 57 | 9 | 69,753 |
| Jul 26 – Aug 1 | 46 | 9 | 59,416 |
| Aug 2–8 | 55 | 8 | 59,712 |
| Aug 9–15 | 45 | 8 | 55,994 |
| Aug 16–22 | 37 | 8 | 54,328 |
| Aug 23–29 | 102 | 9 | 51,772 |
| Aug 30 – Sep 5 | 128 | 8 | 57,167 |
| Sep 6–12 | 119 | 9 | 59,075 |
| Sep 13–19 | 96 | 10 | 54,543 |
| Sep 20–26 | 137 | 8 | 45,860 |
| Sep 27 – Oct 3 | 94 | 10 | 43,180 |
| Oct 4–10 | 78 | 8 | 37,841 |
| Oct 11–17 | 89 | 10 | 30,824 |
| Oct 18–24 | 76 | 9 | 21,156 |
| Oct 25–31 | 70 | 10 | 19,021 |
| Nov 1–7 | 65 | 8 | 14,172 |
| Nov 8–14 | 51 | 10 | 12,621 |
| Nov 15–21 | 30 | 8 | 7,965 |
| Nov 22–28 | 33 | 8 | 8,136 |
| Nov 29 – Dec 5 | 29 | 8 | 6,083 |
| Dec 6–12 | 29 | 7 | 6,004 |
| Dec 13–19 | 35 | 7 | 5,423 |
| Dec 20–26 | 30 | 6 | 5,661 |
| Dec 27 – Jan 2 | 47 | 8 | 8,459 |
Reported in flower
No records here show flowers yet, so there is no flowering season to show. One needs at least 20 records from 5 different years.
Reported in fruit
No records here show fruit yet, so there is no fruiting season to show. One needs at least 20 records from 5 different years.
What these results show
These results show when people recorded a species, not when or where it occurs. Missing weeks and low counts do not mean absence or scarcity, and counts are not abundance. Contributed records reflect where, when and what people chose to observe.
Identification
How to identify it
Often confused with
- ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuronOften confused in Ohio: 37 identifications in Ohio named one where the other was meant
- Diplaziopsis pycnocarpos Diplaziopsis pycnocarposOften confused in Ohio: 22 identifications in Ohio named one where the other was meant
- rock polypody Polypodium virginianumOften confused in Ohio: 16 identifications in Ohio named one where the other was meant
- Appalachian rockcap fern Polypodium appalachianum68 identifications worldwide named one where the other was meant
- cinnamon fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum61 identifications worldwide named one where the other was meant
From iNaturalist’s similar-species counts, refreshed monthly: confusions in Ohio first, then worldwide. Only species with an Ohio result are listed.
Land cover where it is recorded
| Land cover | Its recordsAll Ohio records |
|---|---|
| Forest | 86%31% |
| Developed | 11%49% |
| Wetland | 2%5% |
| Farmland | 1%11% |
| Open water | 0.2%3% |
| Grassland and shrub | 0.1%0.9% |
From 2,047 records placed within 100 m, beside all Ohio records placed the same way. People record where they go, so this shows where records come from, not where the species lives. Land cover: USGS Annual NLCD, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Sources
Where these results come from
- Records from iNaturalist research-grade observations and expert-identified GBIF datasets, CC0, CC BY and CC BY-NC. Sources
- Seasons use the published method and its evidence thresholds. Methods
- See it on iNaturalist (opens in a new tab)OpenPhenology is independent and not affiliated with iNaturalist.
Records behind the Ohio result
3,491 records from 2 datasets.
- iNaturalist Research-grade Observations (opens in a new tab) · iNaturalist.org · 3,480 recordsiNaturalist contributors, iNaturalist (2026). iNaturalist Research-grade Observations. iNaturalist.org. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/ab3s5x accessed via GBIF.org on 2026-11-13.
- iNaturalist observations (opens in a new tab) · iNaturalist.org · 11 recordsiNaturalist. Available from https://www.inaturalist.org. Accessed 2026-11-13
To cite: the GBIF download doi:10.15468/dl.y2jkt8 (opens in a new tab).
A spreadsheet (CSV) with a link to each record, on iNaturalist or GBIF. Records whose location was hidden by the observer or the source are counted but not linked.