Geez! There are 22 entries of ferns called 'holly ferns' and only 4 are 'cultivar' entries. I've seen some big plantings of what were called 'holly ferns' that looked really good. I'm not sure whether they were evergreen or not, but they were big ferns with dark green shiny fronds and usually planted along a foundation or public bit of landscaping. A case where a reliable source would be handy, I think.
I'm growing a fern that is winter hardy that came in one of those Wal-Mart packages where things are dead or near dead to the point they won't survive. I could see it it was trying to grow a bit and planned on using it as an annual. Then it returned the next spring and then again this spring. It seems to increase very slowly. It was sold as 'Lady Fern', but I don't think it is. At least it doesn't look like anything that's ever been pointed out to me as that. It is growing with a hosta in a cast-iron washpot which I don't bring in during the winter. It might spread more if it were planted under better circumstances. Or not.
