Lepisorus macrosphaerus

Lepisorus macrosphaerus is a Chinese epiphytic fern that can be found growing on rocks and trees from 3,000′ to 10,000′ elevation in the Chinese provinces of Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan, Xizang, and Yunnan. The 16″ tall green ribbons are held perpendicular to the pencil lead-thin climbing rhizome. When mature, the leaf backs are prominently adorned with large spherical brown spore cases. We have found Lepisorus macrosphaerus easy to grow in containers and have overwintered it successfully in the ground, growing on slopes in well-aerated, compost-rich soils.