[3] It is one of the most common ferns in eastern North America, being found in moist and shady habitats in woodlands, stream banks and rocky slopes.

Christmas fern has a tufted, clumping habit, with its fronds arising from a central growth point.

The coiled, developing fronds ("crosiers") are scaly, greyish and prominent in early spring.

Each pinna is typically 4-centimetre-long (1.6 in) and has a finely serrulate or spiny edge, and is oblong to falcate in shape.

[5] P. acrostichoides is parasitized by the fungus Taphrina polystichi, which causes yellowish to whitish galls on the fronds.