Common Polypody

A familiar and charming, native Irish fern, Polypodium vulgare will colonise dry-stone walls, and in wetter areas, trees. It’s an evergreen, slowly spreading, mat-forming fern with rather narrow, pointed, divided, deep green, leathery fronds. These are up to 3”/8cm long, often shorter, and are sometimes not divided all the way down to the mid-rib. The spores are a warm brown. Common polypody will tolerate dry shade if watered well in its first year, and, although it likes acid soils, will grow perfectly well in a mortared stone wall. Makes good ground cover if given enough light.

Site: Sheltered preferred; tolerates some exposure
Soil: Any well-drained soil, acid to neutral preferred
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Season of interest: All year
Hardiness: Very hardy
Height: up to 1’ (30cm) Spread: indefinite