Common polypody - Polypodium vulgare

This is one of our native ferns so you will find that they adapt to many positions in the garden from a sunny spot to a dappled shade spot. This is often the fern you see growing down banks or indeed sprouting out of walls. The fronds are of a shiny mid-green and are great for winter interest. Height & Spread 30cm x 1m

Genus: Polypodium
Species: vulgare
Plant type: epiphytic fern
Life cycle: semi-evergreen perennial
Hardiness: Fully hardy: the plant can tolerate temperatures down to about -15C or 5F.
Leaf colour when growing: dark green
Leaf shape: lance-shaped to oblong
Leaf arrangement: pinnate or pinnatifid
Approx leaf length (cm): 40
Can be grown from: rhizome, division.
Soil conditions: humus-rich, light medium heavy, clay or poor quality soil.
Water needs: Semi-moist conditions with dry atmospheric conditions.
Light requirements: Tolerates range of light
Cultivation methods: They will grow easily in any moist, well-drained soil in dappled shade. You can propagate by division or by sowing spores.
Natural habitat: Rocks, walls and trees, as well as on the ground, in a variety of habitats but especially in humid shady conditions.
Interest and use: Ground cover, under shrubs, rocky banks
Min height (m): 0.2
Max height (m): 0.35
Min spread (m): 0.2
Max spread (m): 0.3
Fragrance: pleasant
Spring colour: dark green
Summer colour: dark green
Autumn colour: dark green
Winter colour: dark green
Min growing temp (C): 8
Max growing temp (C): 30
Min optimum temp (C): 14
Growth habit: terrestrial or prostrate
Climatic zone: 7
Origin: Europe, Africa & E.Asia