Japanese shield fern

noun

: autumn fern
Autumn fern, also called Japanese shield fern, can be used as a massed ground cover in shady areas, and grows about 2 feet tall.—Joan Brookwell, Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), 24 Oct. 1997

Word History

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Japanese shield fern was in 1985

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Cite this Entry

“Japanese shield fern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Japanese%20shield%20fern. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.

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