trefle.io · Taken Apr 22, 2022 by Mathias Brath (cc-by-sa)
Polypodiaceae
Soft shield-fern
Polystichum setiferum
Also known as Aspidium aculeatum var. angulare, Aspidium aculeatum subsp. angulare, Polystichum angulare, Aspidium angulare
Native Plants · Fern · Shade Plant · Woodland · Semi-Evergreen · Ground Cover · Border Plant · Moisture Loving · Hardy Fern · Garden Fern
Soft shield-fern is an elegant, semi-evergreen fern that excels in shaded borders, woodland gardens, and containers. It prefers humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil and is one of the most tolerant ferns for dry shade once settled in. Remove any tatty fronds in late winter before new growth emerges to keep the plant looking its best.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 2 hours
- Watering
- Water thoroughly so the soil stays evenly moist but never waterlogged · Every 5-7 days; keep soil consistently moist
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 5.5–6.5
- Temperature
- -25°F to 85°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 18 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Corse, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Kriti
Sources: trefle, usda
More Polystichum
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Polystichum imbricans subsp. curtum
Polystichum imbricans subsp. curtum
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