This vigorous fern has a creeping branched rhizome with dark brown scales and has underground stolons that form a clump. It has dark green erect divided fronds and the new growth is bronze pink. The fertile fronds appear during spring.

Hardiness zones 8 to 12 

Blechnum wattsii is naturally found on the east coast of Australia from northern Queensland to Victoria, Tasmania and it is also found in Borneo, New Zealand and Polynesia.

It prefers a semi-shaded to sunny sheltered position and grows in moist well composted organic rich moist soil with wind and drought protection.

The Hard Water Fern is grown for its foliage and is planted in moist, shaded rockeries or used as a container specimen. It is very suited to shaded positions around a water feature and is fast growing establishing in 1 to 2 years from division. ID 1022

Blechnum (BLEK-num ) wattsii (wăt-see-eye)

Blechnaceae (blek-NAY-see-ee)