Overview

Cheilanthes lanosa is a bushy ferns in the genus Cheilanthes, part of the Pteridaceae family, with evergreen foliage. It typically grows around 0.1-0.5 metres tall and 0.1-0.5 metres wide, reaching full size in around 2-5 years. Cheilanthes lanosa grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam and sand soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H4. Suggested uses include rock garden, patio and container plants, cottage and informal garden, low maintenance, wall side borders, underplanting of roses and shrubs and flower borders and beds.

About

One of the cheilanthoid lip ferns, it was usually classified in the genus Cheilanthes as Cheilanthes lanosa until 2013, when the genus Myriopteris was again recognized as separate from Cheilanthes. Myriopteris lanosa, the hairy lip fern, is a medium-sized fern of the eastern United States. The leaves are twice-divided into lanceolate or oblong segments, and are sparsely covered in hairs, but lack scales, hence its common name. It typically grows in shallow, dry, soil, often in rocky habitats. It is native to Mazapil, Ejido Cuitláhuac. Mature plants reach roughly 0.1-0.5 metres tall and 0.1-0.5 metres wide, carrying evergreen foliage. In the garden it prefers full sun and loam and sand soil. It tolerates soil of any pH, well-drained conditions and west-facing and south-facing aspects.

Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Myriopteris lanosa

About the genus

Cheilanthes, commonly known as lip ferns, is a genus of about 180 species of rock-dwelling ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution in warm, dry, rocky regions, often growing in small crevices high up on cliffs. Most are small, sturdy and evergreen. The leaves, often densely covered in trichomes, spring directly from the rootstocks.

Wikipedia contributors, "Cheilanthes", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Cheilanthes

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Cheilanthes

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Well-drained

Aspect

West-facing, South-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H4

Plant details

Cheilanthes lanosa size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Ferns, Alpine Rockery, Conservatory Greenhouse

Habit

Bushy

Foliage

Evergreen

Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Time to full height

2-5 years

Suggested uses

Rock garden, Patio and container plants, Cottage and informal garden, Low Maintenance, Wall side borders, Underplanting of roses and shrubs, Flower borders and beds

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Cheilanthes lanosa

Propagation

Division, Spores

Pest resistance

Generally pest-free

Disease resistance

Generally disease-free

Frequently asked questions