Polystichum munitum
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Aspidium munitum
- Polystichum munitum var. incisoserratum
- Phonetic Spelling
- po-LI-sti-kim mew-NEE-turn
- Description
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The sword fern is an evergreen or semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial in the polypody family (Polypodiaceae) native to western North America, from Alaska to Mexico. The Latin species epithet, munitum, means "armed with teeth" and references the fronds.
The sword fern prefers partial to full shade, moist, well-drained soils in humid conditions. The delicate fronds will burn if exposed to full sun. It adapts to various soils but prefers acidic to slightly acidic conditions. In the fall, when the fronds begin to die off for the winter, they should not be removed. These fronds will protect the new growth that will occur in the spring. The sword fern is propagated by spores and rhizomes. Division should be done in the early spring. The rhizomes will survive through the winter when planted in the ground, but container plants should be moved indoors. It is also important to protect the crowns from excessive winter wetness.
This fern has large, arching, dark green, erect fronds that are born from a crown of scaly rhizomes. The plant grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide, in clumps of 75 to 100 fronds. The fronds are pinnately compound with alternate, pointed, sharp-toothed leaflets. Each leaflet is sword-like and has a small lobe that points forward at the base, like a saber. Sori are yellowish and arranged in rows on the undersides of the fronds. The foliage provides year-round interest in warmer climates. A fern from the Pacific coast, it has earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Sword fern may sometimes be confused with deer fern. The sword fern has a small stalk attached to each leaflet, whereas the deer fern's leaflets are attached to the stipe along their entire margin and their margins are not toothed.
The sword fern could be considered for a shade garden, cottage garden, or woodland garden. It may also be used as a container plant on a patio or deck.
Quick ID Hints:
- evergreen, up to 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide, clumps of up to 75 to 100 fronds
- erect, arching fronds, pinnately compound, lance-shaped
- fronds have many leaflets that are simple, alternate, finely serrated
- clusters of yellowish spores on the undersides of the leaflets
- young fronds or fiddleheads appear in the spring and slowly unroll
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Sword ferns are generally resistant to most insects and diseases. Monitor for aphids, mealybugs, fern mites, and nematodes. Browning of the tips of the leaves usually indicates a lack of water and humidity. Yellow and wilting leaves are usually the result of overwatering.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Shady Garden in Cabarrus County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Polystichum
- Species:
- munitum
- Family:
- Polypodiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The sword fern was a food source for Native Americans. They ate the rhizomes by boiling, baking, or steaming. The fern was also used to treat skin sores, chewed for treating sore throats, make a poultice for burns, and treat dandruff. The fronds were also used to make mats for cleaning and drying fish or tied to make a mattress. It is now widely cultivated and used by florists in making floral arrangements
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western North America, Alaska, British Columbia to Mexico,
- Distribution:
- Native: United States--AK, CA, ID, MT, OR, SD, and WA; Canada--British Columbia; Mexico--Mexican Pacific Island, Mexico Northwest. Introduced: Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Netherlands, and the United States--PA.
- Wildlife Value:
- Elk, deer, beavers, mountain goats, and black bears eat the leaves or fronds. The Sword Fern is a nesting site for birds, deer, and small mammals. Black bears use the fronds for bedding.
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Nesting
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are arching fronds that are pinnate, leathery, stiff, upright, dark green, and measure 1 to 4 feet long and 2 inches to 10 inches wide. The leaflets are alternate, pointed, and toothed with a medium texture. They appear sword-like. Each leaflet is attached by a small stem. The leaflets have spores on the undersides that are uniformly spaced in a single row on either side of the midrib and are light yellow.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems are erect.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Meadow
- Patio
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
