Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Ferns

Woodsia polystichoides

holly-fern woodsia

a small, long-lived deciduous fern 20-30cm in height, with softly hairy, simply pinnate light green fronds, the pinnae slightly sickle-shaped

Save to My plants

Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

North–facing or East–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Woodsiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Woodsia are small, tufted deciduous ferns with pinnate or 2-pinnate fronds, and are well-suited to a rock garden
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in very well-drained but moist fertile soil in partial shade. Position crowns above soil level level and surround with small stones

Propagation

Propagate by spores or by division when dormant

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Gravel garden
Cottage and informal garden
Rock garden
Low Maintenance
Banks and slopes

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.