Winter Ferns 2025-2026

Purple-stem Cliffbrake

This week Randy & I visited our special site for this uncommon fern. Fortunately it is evergreen and most of the rock face had lost its snow cover so we could see them. Unlike most of the other ferns in our area, which are still covered by a blanket of snow.

The Purple-stem Cliffbrake (Pellaea atropurpurea) is found on neutral ph rock faces in our area, and usually high above our reach. This photo is not very sharp because it was taken at some distance. The leaves are a light greenish-gray color and the stems are beautiful shiny dark purple-black (hence its name). They are delicate looking ferns scattered across the upper rock face in loose clusters.

Distribution maps show them occurring in at least central to western MA, western VT and most of CT, but we only know a couple sites around here. Go-Botany describes them as uncommon in MA and VT. This is the only Pellaea species in MA. There are 15 species of Pellaea in the US, mostly in the arid southwestern states.

Looking forward to Spring!

By the way, I was told that perhaps some people did not realize why I used that photo of the Lady Fern fiddleheads for the Valentine's Day news article. We all see things differently, but I saw a heart in the shape of the fiddleheads. I should have mentioned it!

Posted: to PV Fern News on Sun, Mar 1, 2026
Updated: Sun, Mar 1, 2026