Polystichum luctuosum
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Aspidium luctuosum
- Aspidium tsus-simense
- Polystichum tsus-simense
- Polystichum tsus-simense var. parvipinnulum
- Phonetic Spelling
- pol-IS-tick-um luc-two-OH-som
- Description
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Korean rock fern is a small, compact, rhizomatous, mounding, slow-growing, evergreen to semi-evergreen herbaceous fern found in Southern Africa and Central and Eastern Asia. Its native habitat is evergreen forests at elevations of 2500 to 5700 feet on the forest floor or on rocks in China, Japan, Korea, and South Africa. It grows 1 to 1.5 feet tall and equally as wide. The fronds are shiny, broad, lance-shaped, leathery, finely divided, bluish-green with black veining. Koren rock fern is a member of the polypody family (Polypodiaceae). The genus name Polystichum is derived from two Greek words: polys, meaning many, and stichos, meaning in a row. This refers to the arrangement of the spores. The specific epithet luctuosum is a form of the Latin luctuosus, meaning sorrowful or mournful; hence the common names, sorrowful fern and mourning shield fern.
Prefers partial shade to full shade and moist, well-drained humus-rich soil. It is winter hardy in zones 6 to 9. Tolerates heavy shade and is deer- and rabbit-resistant. This low-maintenance plant may only require you to remove damaged or dead fronds. Propagated by spores and division of the rhizomes.
The Korean rock fern was first brought to the United States by the floral industry for use in men's boutonnieres.
This small species has a very compact and tidy appearance. The Korean rock fern is perfect for rock gardens, woodlands, mass plantings as ground cover, or as a container plant.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant insect pests or diseases. Overwatering and poor drainage may lead to crown rot, especially in the winter.
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 :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Polystichum
- Species:
- luctuosum
- Family:
- Dryopteridaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Zimbabwe to South Africa; Himalaya to Japan and Vietnam
- Distribution:
- Native: Cape Provinces, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Eswatini, Free State, Japan, Korea, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Madagascar, Manchuria, Nepal, Netherlands, Northern Provinces, Pakistan, Réunion, Taiwan, Tibet, Vietnam, West Himalaya, and Zimbabwe. Introduced: Belgium, Florida, and Louisiana
- Play Value:
- Defines Paths
- Textural
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy shade, This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Creeping
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. This plant reproduces via spores. The sori are round and 1mm in diameter. The indusium (membrane surrounding the spore) is round, entire, and dark brown.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- Non-flowering.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are glossy, bluish-green fronds. The leaf blade or lamina is lance-shaped and bipinnate with black veins, measuring up to 1.5 feet long and 0.5 feet wide. The pinnae have 12 to 15 pairs, alternate, and narrowly oblong-lanceolate. Basal pinnules of the pinna are conspicuously separated and larger. Pinnules are sharply cut, terminating in bristles. The rachis is pale brown with black scales.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in more than 2 scales
- Stem Description:
- The stipe is up to 1 foot long, pale to medium brown, with dark brown to black scales.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Riparian
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Fairy Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Rabbits
- Urban Conditions
