Learn how to produce brand fern , a North American indigen with a big garden presence .
Sword fern(Polystichum munitum)adds instant luxuriance toshade garden . It is gross for a shaded backyard , north - face court , or shady terrace . brand fern fronds stand through wintertime with a few fading or dying back . In natural spring , keep an center out for the delicious fiddleheads to down up and unfurl as the days warm . This large , modeled perennial is an evergreen plant with a big garden presence inUSDA Zones5–9 .
Where to Plant Sword Fern
Sword fern grows best in shade . It will thrive in part shade—4 to 6 hours of bright light a daylight — or full shade — just 2 to 4 hours of bright light . Grow this large perennial under the dumb shade of conifers or deciduous trees . It is well - suited for growing in the low light of the Frederick North or E side of a building . Sword fern flourish in moist , well - debilitate soil that isrich in constitutive matter . It will tolerateslow - draining clayfor short periods but will not survive in boggy site .
It is aboriginal to North America and thrives in moist , shaded landscapes . Sword fern is particularly at household in the humid coniferous regions of the Pacific Northwest .
Sword fern can also be grown as a container plant . turn the potted works on a shaded porch or patio in the summer . Move it indoors to a tender , humid daub in winter . It will likely cast several leaflets and a few frond , but it will regrow speedily when you move it outside in spring .
Credit: Laurie Black
How and When to Plant Sword Fern
Plant steel fern in spring or early summertime . Choose the planting positioning carefully , ensure this large perennial has plenty of space to thrive . Its monolithic fronds can develop 4 to 6 feet long . In moist , humus - rich soil , the plant can easy hit 7 feet or more across , but in most home landscape , it grow 2 to 4 feet wide .
Dig a planting hole slightly extensive than the plant ’s root ball and just as deep . industrial plant sword fern so that the top of the root clod is tier with the ring score . Backfill with aboriginal soil , and water the fresh planted fern . preserve water hebdomadally , keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged until the plant establishes a robust root system , usually within a few week . remain watering as ask to give the industrial plant about an in of wet a calendar week .
Sword Fern Care Tips
Light
Sword fern grows best in tint . It thrives with onlytwo to four hours of bright lighta day . It can tolerate up to six hours of bright igniter . Plant sword fern in the dense nicety of coniferous Tree or deeply shaded nooks where other plants struggle to survive .
Soil and Water
maturate blade fern inwell - drained soilthat is racy in constitutional topic . In the wilderness , it grows in the humus - rich floor of a coniferous forest . nullify wet or boggy land and soil with a high the Great Compromiser substance . dumb - drain soil is not a good convulsion for sword fern .
unconstipated moisture is critical for lush ontogeny . Sword fern grows best with about an column inch of weekly rainfall or supplemental water . This hard works will grow in an desiccate surround after it establishes a substantial radical system , but the plants will be compact .
Temperature and Humidity
Sword fern grows well in a all-encompassing range of temperatures . Expect it to produce its dark commons , evergreen frond everywhere from the coldest parts of Zone 5 to the temperate - surround - on - tropic function of Zone 9 . Be certain to leave fade and decaying fronds on the flora over wintertime ; these massive leaves isolate the crown , which is specially important in inhuman regions .
High humidity is ideal for brand fern , which fly high in moist , humid environments . It can grow in waterless regions , but its form is more compendious there .
Fertilizer
In its aboriginal environment , blade fern grows in nutrient - rich ground usually bump on the forest flooring . Mimic that thick hoummos layer by topdressing sword fern ’s rootage zona with a 1 - inch bed ofcomposteach spring . If the local soil is sandy or thin , fertilize sword fern with anall - determination fertilizerannually in spring , following the product book of instructions , and topdress with compost .
Pruning
Cut back old , faded fronds when new maturation begins in leap . Resist cutting back fade fronds in fall ; the old fronds will help insulate the pate through winter , making path for potent growing in spring .
Potting and Repotting Sword Fern
Sword fern can be develop as a container plant outside or as a bombastic houseplant . Use a well - draining container fill with garden dirt rich in constitutive matter or with good - calibre potting soil .
When raise brand fern indoors , position it in a bright lit room near a north- or eastward - face window . Water a sword fern grow as a houseplant as needed to defend moist , but not wet , soil . After a twelvemonth , you’re able to repot to a larger container with fresh soil , but the plant may soon become too large for most menage .
Pests and Problems
brand fern is mostly pest - free and well-off to grow . Wet , boggy soil is its biggest enemy . stave off slow development and plant life decease by growing it in at large , well - drained soil .
How to Propagate Sword Fern
The easy direction to propagate sword fern is bydividing established plants . Dig up the entire clump and cut the top into three or four bit using a sharp-worded spade . Each part needs ample roots and foliage . Plant the divisions immediately in places where they have infinite to expand .
Sword Fern Companion Plants
The best companion plant life for sword fern are those that enjoy the same moist , umbrageous locations .
Coral Bells
Carson Downing
The graciously round leave ofcoral bellsprovide a pleasing line to the many - leaved fronds of sword fern . Growing in moist , shaded location , coral gong are available in a miscellanea of leafage colors — from chartreuse to burgundy — and a broad range of sizes . Some plants grow just 1 foot wide while others expand to as much as 3 feet wide . plant life three or more coral Alexander Bell together for a impetus of color and texture . Zones 3–9 .
Hosta
Blaine Moats
Hostasare some of the easiest shade plant life to grow . This hardy perennial is available in hundreds of varieties diverge in size from 6 inch wide to more than 4 metrical foot full . Variegated leaves in white , green , and yellow summate more options . zone 3–9 .
Lungwort
Pleasing stippled leaves combine with brilliant purplish , clean , or pinkish leaping flowers makelungworta hardworking perennial . Lungwort grows well in shadowiness and part shade and is well - suit to a change of soils . ‘ Benediction ’ has bright royal flowers , and ‘ Opal ’ ( show here ) has unclouded white flowers . zone 2–8 .
Frequently Asked Questions
Sword fern is cervid - resistant . Deer in general do n’t eat the slurred , glossy fronds , but hungry cervid are unpredictable . Elk , tidy sum goats , and black bear are sleep together to eat the fronds and use them for bedding .
Leave it support in the garden . Its numerous frond will winter well . Individual frond last for several years . Remove them as they melt and buy the farm for a plush feel .
Credit:Carson Downing
Credit:Blaine Moats
Credit: Marty Baldwin
