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A lucky find which is worth showing - a large boulder covered with a nice colony of Asplenium rhizophyllum, the walking fern. This species is found only limestone or dolomite boulders in Ontario and Quebec (and more states in US).It reproduces clonal with the elongated leaf tips acting like 'stolons' and also by spores.
Certainly not dry here, this year, but next year, who knows? lol.. I'd probably have some concerns about winter shelter, too- probably need a site with no wind exposure or something... the biggest problem here would be getting a suitable boulder second would be getting the ferns/spores...lol
A very interesting fern. Nothing like it here!But I have very moist climate and lots of boulders around. Not limestone though
Hardiness may be a bigger problem maybe Cohan; as far as the boulders you don't need to use such a larger one. Anything smaller in size can work; you could practice with Polypodium virginianum first Too dry for it here as well. I still have it but is not very happy.
I wouldn't think they would 'need' the big rock, but that is the biggest part of the fun I don't really have limestone (very small pieces in the mixed glacial stone around here.. of course it could be bought, but that is another issue), though when artificially grown, they might not care that much? I find many plants in the garden are much more adaptable compared to very specific niches in nature-- eg I have a couple of plants from the Dolomites happy in mixed stone (my soil is probably basic enough).
Those will be the sort of plants hardest hit by climate change...little chance for them to move...
.....On a side note, it has just occurred to me that although I have seen thousands of A. ruta-muraria growing in walls around the place, I don't think I have ever seen it in the wild! Presumably it likes limestone rock crevices..?
On a side note, it has just occurred to me that although I have seen thousands of A. ruta-muraria growing in walls around the place, I don't think I have ever seen it in the wild! Presumably it likes limestone rock crevices..?