- Botanical name: Blechnum spicant
- Common name: Hard fern
- Family: Blechnaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial
Green
- Key features:
- Dramatic foliage
Hard fern, Blechnum spicant, has tough leathery, glossy fronds. These are ladder-shaped, and older fronds form a loose rosette around the more upright central ones. It provides year-round interest for a shady spot and works well with other shade-loving, woodland plants. It can also be used in dry stone walls and rock gardens. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Grow Blechnum spicant in well-drained soil in partial to full shade. Mulch annually with leafmould.
How to grow Blechnum spicant
-
Plant size
45cm height
60cm spread
-
Aspect
North facing, east facing
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, partial shade, full shade
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy / clay / heavy / moist / chalky / alkaline
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do Plant in July |
A
Do Plant in August |
S
Do Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Divide | ||||||||||||
| Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do Divide in March |
A
Do Divide in April |
M
Do Divide in May |
J
Do not Divide in June |
J
Do not Divide in July |
A
Do not Divide in August |
S
Do not Divide in September |
O
Do not Divide in October |
N
Do not Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
Blechnum spicant and wildlife
Blechnum spicant has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Blechnum spicant poisonous?
Blechnum spicant has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Blechnum spicant
