Cheilanthes hirta coll. #A1SA-189

This collection of the South African sun fern, Anthonya hirta hails from the Eastern Cape Province town of Cathcart at 4,400′ elevation, where it resides on dry rocky cliffs. The rich green, deeply cut, upright fronds form a 1′ tall x 1′ wide deer-resistant clump that goes tardily deciduous in our climate. Where temperatures drop much below 12F, plant in a protected location. In the wild, A. hirta grows where it can keep its tops hot and feet cool….usually by hiding the latter under large rocks.