Description
Polystichum – Shield Fern –
There are about 200 species of usually evergreen, terrestrial ferns in this genus. They occur in a range of habitats, from alpine cliffs to tropical forest worldwide. They are grown for their often lance shaped, pinnate to 3 pinnate fronds, which arise from erect or short creeping rhizomes, usually in shapely, shuttlecock crowns. The pinnae are sometimes lobed, each lobe ending in a sharp point or bristle. Sori are borne on the undersides of the fronds, each usually protected by a rounded indusium. Grow in a rock garden, fernery, or well drained border, or as a groundcover in woodland setting.
Grow in fertile, humus rich, well drained soil in deep or partial shade. Remove dead fronds before new ones unfurl. Divide in spring.
P. setiferum – Hedge Fern – Soft Shield Fern – This terrestrial, evergreen fern from Europe grows 4′ feet tall and 3′ feet wide. It produces soft lance shaped, 2 pinnate dark green fronds, 12-48″ long, arranged in shuttlecocks, stems have a dense covering of large brown scales. Pinnate lobes are ovate, bristle toothed, stalked, and obtusely angled at the point of attachment to the midribs.
Divisilobum Group – grows 20-28″ tall and produces usually spreading, 3 pinnate fronds, consisting of narrowed and leathery segments, bulbils often form along the fronds midribs
Zones 6-9
