Common Polypody Polypodium vulgare
Previously known as:
- Ctenopteris vulgaris
- Phonetic Spelling
- pol-ee-POH-dee-um vul-GAR-ee
- Description
-
Common Polypody is an epiphanic evergreen fern native to Africa and Eurasia that provides year-round interest. The fronds grow from a horizontal rhizome and can be found in old walls, cracks in rocks, the bases of trees, in rocky undergrowth and on tree limbs. The leathery green fronds can grow to 12 inches long and have large sori on the undersides giving the upper side a bumpy appearance.
Its preference is for moist well-drained sandy soils in partial to full shade. It is grown for the foliage and can be used under shrubs and trees, in the front border of a shade garden, as an evergreen ground cover, on slopes or in a rock garden.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No significant diseases or pests. Watch for Florida Fern Caterpillar.
VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Coastal Shade Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Polypodium
- Species:
- vulgare
- Family:
- Polypodiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The root has been used in herbal medicine for many years
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Asia and Africa
- Edibility:
- Used to make nougat due to its sweet flavor
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Epiphyte
- Fern
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Horizontal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- Orange
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits but have large sori on the underside that are yellow to orange and turn dark gray when mature
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Bright green leathery triangular fronds are 4- 20 inches with 10 to 18 pairs of leaflets that get smaller near the tip and are off-set from each other. Margins are either entire or slightly dentate.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
