Western sword fern.

Auf einen Blick

Pflegestufe

Einfach

Pflanzenart

Fern

Licht

Partial shade to full shade

Licht im Innenraum

Mittleres Licht

Gießen

Alle 3 bis 7 Tage

Endgröße

3 to 4 feet

Wachstum

Mittel

Winterhärte

USDA 3 bis 9

Blütezeit

None, this is a spore bearing fern.

Pflege

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to prevent root rot. Watch for browning tips which often signal the air is too dry. It thrives best when protected from harsh afternoon sun.

Gießen

Water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Düngen

Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.

Schneiden

Trim away old or damaged fronds in late winter before new growth appears.

Umtopfen

Move to a slightly larger container once the roots have filled the current pot.

Boden

Rich, well draining, organic soil

Boden-pH

6.0 to 7.0

Temperatur

-25 bis 35°C

Luftfeuchtigkeit

40 bis 80%

Trockenheitstoleranz

Mittel

Lebensdauer

Perennial, can live for decades.

Wildverbiss-Resistenz

Hoch

Sicherheit

Menschen

There is no evidence of toxicity in humans, but it is not a food plant.

Kinder

The fronds are tough and can have sharp edges, so keep them away from small children who might grab them.

Kontaktallergene

The spores can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Allergene in der Luft

The fine spores released in late summer may trigger mild respiratory discomfort in those with severe allergies.

Essbarkeit

This plant is not considered edible and should not be consumed.

So erkennst du die Pflanze

• Dark green leathery fronds
• Sword shaped leaflets with serrated edges
• Distinctive thumb shaped lobe at base
• Circular brown spore clusters underneath

Höhe

0,6 bis 1,2m

Breite

0,6 bis 1,2m

Blätter

dark green, evergreen

Blüten

0cm

Häufige Probleme

• Scale insects — Small sap sucking insects that appear as tiny bumps on the undersides of fronds.
• Tip burn — Browning of frond tips caused by low humidity or inconsistent watering.

Standort und Pflege

Vermehrung

division, spores

Pflanzzeit

spring, fall

Überwinterung

Leave the old fronds on until late winter to protect the crown, then trim them back just before new growth appears in spring.

Im Kübel

It grows well in large containers, at least 40 centimeters in diameter, provided the soil stays moist.

Plant in groups of three or five for a natural woodland aesthetic.

Gute Pflanzpartner

• Gaultheria shallon — They share similar woodland habitat requirements.
• Dicentra formosa — They provide a nice contrast in texture and foliage color.

Ähnliche Arten

• Christmas fern — It is the eastern North American counterpart to this species.

Botanisches

Familie

Dryopteridaceae

Gattung

Polystichum

Ordnung

Polypodiales

Klasse

Polypodiopsida

Ursprüngliche Heimat

Western North America from Alaska to California.

Artenschutz

This species is abundant and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in the understory of coniferous forests where it captures filtered light and benefits from high organic matter.

Nutzen für Wildtiere

provides cover for small mammals, nesting material for birds

Verwendung

woodland gardens, erosion control, foundation planting

Taxonomie abgeglichen mit GBIF.

Häufige Fragen

Does it need full sun?

No, it prefers partial to full shade.

How often should I water it?

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.

Woher der Name kommt

Polystichum comes from Greek words for many rows, referring to the spore clusters, while munitum means armed or fortified.

Gut zu wissen

• Indigenous peoples used the fronds for lining cooking pits.
• The common name comes from the sword shaped leaflets.
• It remains green throughout the winter in most climates.
• It is one of the most recognizable ferns in the western United States.

Auch in

• Pflanzen für den Schatten
• Pflanzen, die Rehe meiden