Royal Lipfern: An Uncommon Fern with a Puzzling Profile
Meet the royal lipfern (Cheilanthes notholaenoides), a rather mysterious member of the fern family that’s managed to keep botanists and gardeners scratching their heads. This perennial plant has found its way into Texas landscapes, though its story is a bit more complicated than your typical native plant tale.
What Exactly Is Royal Lipfern?
Royal lipfern belongs to the Cheilanthes genus, commonly known as lip ferns. These are typically small, drought-tolerant ferns that have adapted to some pretty harsh growing conditions. What makes this particular species interesting (and a bit puzzling) is that it’s classified as non-native to the United States, which is unusual for most Cheilanthes species that are typically native to North American deserts and rocky areas.
As a perennial, this fern establishes itself and returns year after year, slowly spreading through spore reproduction without needing human intervention.
Where You’ll Find It
Currently, royal lipfern has been documented in Texas, where it has naturalized and reproduces on its own in the wild. Its presence is relatively limited geographically compared to other fern species.
Is Royal Lipfern Beneficial in Gardens?
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. While this fern isn’t currently listed as invasive or noxious, its non-native status means it’s not providing the same ecological benefits that native ferns would offer to local wildlife and pollinators. Native plants have co-evolved with local ecosystems over thousands of years, creating intricate relationships with insects, birds, and other wildlife that non-native species simply can’t replicate.
That said, if you’re already growing royal lipfern or encounter it in your landscape, it’s not necessarily causing harm either. The key is being mindful about what we choose to add to our gardens going forward.
Better Native Alternatives
If you’re drawn to the idea of growing ferns in your Texas garden, consider these fantastic native alternatives:
- Resurrection fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides) – incredibly drought-tolerant and fascinating to watch
- Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) – great for naturalized areas
- Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) – evergreen beauty for shaded spots
How to Identify Royal Lipfern
Unfortunately, detailed identification characteristics for this specific species are limited in available resources. If you suspect you have royal lipfern in your garden, your best bet is to consult with local botanists, extension agents, or experienced native plant enthusiasts who can help with proper identification.
Most Cheilanthes species share some common traits: they’re typically small, have finely divided fronds, and often grow in rocky or dry conditions. However, proper species identification requires examining specific characteristics like spore patterns, frond structure, and growth habits.
The Bottom Line
Royal lipfern represents one of those garden mysteries that reminds us how much we still have to learn about the plants around us. While it’s not causing ecological alarm bells to ring, choosing native ferns for your landscape will always be the more beneficial choice for local wildlife and ecosystem health.
If you’re passionate about ferns, focus your energy on those gorgeous native species that will truly thrive in your Texas garden while supporting the local critters that call your yard home. Your garden—and the environment—will thank you for it!
