Plant details
A European and British native, this fern makes a shuttlecock shape when young, with soft, evergreen, dark green fronds, but gradually the plants lose their distinctive, individual shape as they clump up. Very effective in damp, shady corners, but can also be grown in pots in alleys, for example, leading from the back door to the garden. There are scores of cultivars, with 'Divisilobum Densum' and 'Divisilobum Iveryanum' the pick of a big and varied bunch. It has been given the Award of Garden Merit by the RHS.
Family: Dryopteridaceae
Genus: Polystichum
Species: setiferum
Plant type: Hardy perennial
Foliage colour: Mid-green
Feature: Dramatic foliage
Sun exposure: Partial shade, Shade
Soil: Well-drained/light, Dry, Moist
Hardiness: Hardy
Skill level: Beginner
Height: 120cm
Spread: 90cm
Time to divide plants: April to April
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