Polystichum munitum
Sword fern, Western holly fern
- Height × spread
- 1.2m × 1.2m
- Position
- All conditions
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This evergreen fern has long, rather rigid, fronds that may arch along their length or be held erect. They are slender, sword shaped, dark-green with toothed leaflets; may be individually as much as 1.2m (4ft) length. There is a bonus in spring, when the fronds unfurl, at which time they are covered in silver scales. The Native Americans used an extract from this plant to numb the pain of childbirth. The rhizome was cooked and used as an aid to healing flesh burns. This fern likes a shaded site in a, moist, cool woodland position with humus rich soil. It can tolerate sunshine however and is sometimes used at the feet of privet hedges. (remember to give it a drink from time to time and an annual mulch). This reaches around 1.2m (4ft) height and can have an equivalent spread if well suited.
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 1.2m
- Spread
- 1.2m
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Sun or shade
- All conditions
- Soil type
- Chalk, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Use for
- Ground cover, Deer resistant
- Deer
- May be damaged by deer, especially when young
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during drought
In drought conditions where established plants in the ground have had no water for a month, do a deep watering. If drought continues repeat after a fortnight. Plants only need watering during spring to autumn growth. Check plants in pots more often.
Established plants have a good degree of drought tolerance. Water after a prolonged period of drought. Many drought tolerant plants can rapidly revive, even when much of the foliage has died. They will respond with new growth.
Spring - early · Planting
Prune to the ground
Cut foliage to the ground before new growth starts.
Where stems are grown for their ornamental value, old stems should be removed either before new growth starts in spring, or during winter when they begin to look ragged or untidy.
Winter
Winter · Planting
Apply a protective mulch
Protect with a mulch so that the plant does not become too wet in winter.
A mulch is a covering that can: protect the soil surface from rain, heat and cold; deter weeds; provide nutrients. Organic indicates that material has vegetative origin e.g. manure, compost. Synthetics i.e. plastics, or stones are often called mulches.
Found in
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