I bought a small, lacy, fern in Tennessee that the clerk said the owner brought from Florida. It is olive green on top and brick red underneath the lacy leaves. The clerk said it has to have water sitting in the outer pot at all times or the edges will harden and become a darker red. Very pretty! Does anyone recognize the description?

Can you get a photo of the fern to post? My first guess would be Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora) Dryopteris erythrosora), but it tends to redden on the top of the leaves rather than the underside.

Jeremy

Another possibility is the Ruby Red Spikemoss Fern - Selaginella erythropus

Spikemoss (Selaginella erythropus 'Sanguinea')

http://www.goinggreenplants.co...

Jeremy

Thank you so much! That's it....the ruby red spikemoss fern. I like to know the names of the plants I have even though I will mostly forget them a week later. I am near Tyler, Texas (Zone 8) and wonder if it will grow in my little outdoor pond? Guess I can try and just keep an eye on it to see how it does. Thanks again.

You're very welcome, backacre. Glad to be able to help.

I've had mixed results with growing Selaginella in the ground. They want some shade, but seem to want more sun than most ferns. I finally got one to continue living through a few seasons (still alive!). It is tucked up under a slight overhang of an old Live Oak tree trunk that I used to plant bromeliads on. In that spot, the Selaginella gets more sun, but still is shaded enough to not fry in our summer heat. They will survive the winter in 8b with a little protection.

Jeremy