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Polypodium virginianum

Common Name(s):

Description

Common Rockcap Fern is a native evergreen fern found in moist rocky areas from Greenland south through Canada and the U.S.A. This plant is mat-forming and drought tolerant. This plant looks very similar to Polypodium appalachianum, making it difficult to distinguish the two plants. One key difference, however, is that this plant's leaf blades are widest near the middle.

VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.

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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fern#NC native#deer resistant#native fern#food source herbage#bird friendly#mammals#Audubon
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fern#NC native#deer resistant#native fern#food source herbage#bird friendly#mammals#Audubon
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Polypodium
    Species:
    virginianum
    Family:
    Polypodiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Sub Arctic North America
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Heavy shade, Deer
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Fern
    Native Plant
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Soil Texture:
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Fronds
    Hairs Present:
    No
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Shade Garden
    Attracts:
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Heavy Shade