Western sword fern.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Facile

Type de plante

Fern

Lumière

Partial shade to full shade

Lumière en intérieur

Lumière moyenne

Arrosage

Tous les 3 à 7 jours

Taille adulte

3 to 4 feet

Croissance

Moyenne

Rusticité

USDA 3 à 9

Floraison

None, this is a spore bearing fern.

Entretien

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.

Arrosage

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

Engrais

Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.

Taille

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

Rempotage

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

Sol

Rich, well draining, organic soil

pH du sol

6.0 to 7.0

Température

-25 à 35°C

Humidité

40 à 80%

Résistance à la sécheresse

Moyenne

Durée de vie

Perennial, can live for decades.

Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins

Élevée

Sécurité

Humains

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

Enfants

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

Allergènes de contact

The spores can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Allergènes aéroportés

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

Comestibilité

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

Comment l'identifier

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

Hauteur

0,6 à 1,2m

Envergure

0,6 à 1,2m

Feuilles

dark green, evergreen

Fleurs

0cm

Problèmes courants

• 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.

La cultiver

Multiplication

division, spores

Quand planter

spring, fall

Hivernage

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

En pot

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.

Bonnes associations

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

Espèces similaires

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

Science

Famille

Dryopteridaceae

Genre

Polystichum

Ordre

Polypodiales

Classe

Polypodiopsida

Région d'origine

Western North America from Alaska to California.

Préservation

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.

Intérêt pour la faune

provides cover for small mammals, nesting material for birds

Utilisations

woodland gardens, erosion control, foundation planting

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

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.

D'où vient le nom

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

Bon à savoir

• 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.

Aussi dans

• Plantes d'ombre
• Plantes que les cerfs ne mangent pas