Western sword fern.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Fácil

Tipo de planta

Fern

Luz

Partial shade to full shade

Luz en interior

Luz media

Riego

Cada 3 a 7 días

Tamaño adulto

3 to 4 feet

Ritmo de crecimiento

Medio

Rusticidad

USDA 3 a 9

Floración

None, this is a spore bearing fern.

Cuidados

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.

Riego

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

Abonado

Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.

Poda

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

Trasplante

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

Suelo

Rich, well draining, organic soil

pH del suelo

6.0 to 7.0

Temperatura

-25 a 35°C

Humedad

40 a 80%

Tolerancia a la sequía

Moderada

Longevidad

Perennial, can live for decades.

Resistencia a ciervos y conejos

Alta

Seguridad

Personas

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

Niños

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

Alérgenos por contacto

The spores can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Alérgenos en el aire

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

Comestibilidad

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

Cómo identificarla

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

Altura

0,6 a 1,2m

Anchura

0,6 a 1,2m

Hojas

dark green, evergreen

Flores

0cm

Problemas frecuentes

• 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.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

division, spores

Cuándo plantar

spring, fall

Cuidados en invierno

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

En maceta

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.

Buenas compañeras

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

Especies parecidas

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

Ciencia

Familia

Dryopteridaceae

Género

Polystichum

Orden

Polypodiales

Clase

Polypodiopsida

Distribución natural

Western North America from Alaska to California.

Conservación

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.

Valor para la fauna

provides cover for small mammals, nesting material for birds

Usos

woodland gardens, erosion control, foundation planting

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

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.

De dónde viene el nombre

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

Bueno saberlo

• 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.

También en

• Plantas para sombra
• Plantas que los ciervos no comen