Secret Stories of the Ferns & their Invisible Flowers

Ferns are some of the oldest plants on Earth. Next to flowering, ferns are the most diverse group of vascular plants with over 10,500 living species.  Ferns also have a rich and diverse symbolic history as well. Many cultures consider them a sign of good luck. In Victorian times, the fern was a symbol of humility.  In Japan, the fern is a symbol of family and new life. 

Christmas Fern

Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)

Common Names: Christmas Dagger, Sword Fern

Habitat: Rich forests

Language of the Flowers: Humility

Pollinator Benefit: In North America, ferns act as the larval host plant for several species of moths.  One in particular, the Crambid moth, wraps itself into a ball at the tip of the fern frond.

History & Lore

The Christmas fern is one of the most prolific ferns here in the Blue Ridge Mountains and probably gets its name from the fact that it is one of the only ferns you can see at Christmas time—it’s an evergreen.  A fun way to help remember the name is to look at the little leaflets.  Some people think that they resemble a sleigh or a stocking depending on your perspective.

In Celtic lore, ferns have long been associated with magic and fairies, and that’s probably because they are a green plant with no flower. So, with no flower and no seed, how do they reproduce? Well…magic, of course!*

The Invisible Flower

But legend tells us that there is a fern flower!  Its blooms intermittently and somewhat mysteriously sometime around the summer solstice.  And if you are lucky enough to see that flower, you’ll know you’ve been given the gift of fairy sight!  It’s a gift that also comes with the ability to speak to animals and control the weather. 

*Ferns actually reproduce by way of spores that get dispersed in the form of a nearly invisible, fine dust.  But back in the day, before the invention of the microscope, people were not aware of the existence of these almost minute spores.

The Invisible Seeds

Some people also believed that there were, in fact, fern seeds as well, but that they were invisible. Elaborate rituals were acted out to capture this elusive seed and having it in your possession could make you invisible too.  It’s interesting to note that ferns were also used to improve eyesight.

Because of their association with fairies, ferns were often placed behind the ears of horses and other livestock for protection and to ward off evil spirits. 

Magical Charms & Medicinal Uses

In many cultures around the world, ferns have been used as magical charms: money charms, love charms and weather charms.  In some traditions ferns are still burned today to summon rainstorms.

Ferns have also been used for medicinal purposes as well. Traditional cultures used ferns as medicine to cure headaches, reduce fevers, stop bleeding, heal wounds and reduce inflammation.

What magical experiences do you have with ferns? Have you seen the elusive fern flower for yourself? Let me know in the comments below!