Polypodium vulgare

RHS Plant Profile

common polypody

Other common names

adder's fern, brake root, eastern polypody, ever fern, golden locks, golden maidenhair, lady's milk, polypody, wall fern, word fern

Ferns

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An evergreen terrestrial or epiphytic fern, to 30cm tall, with creeping rhizomes and lance-shaped to oblong, pinnate or very deeply pinnatifid dark green fronds

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–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): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Polypodiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Matforming
Genus: Polypodium can be evergreen or deciduous ferns, with creeping rhizomes bearing simple or pinnate fronds at intervals
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Eurasia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Easy to grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained or drier soils in sunny or lightly-shaded sites. Tolerant of dry shade but water regularly in their first season and mulch well

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring or early summer. Sow spores at 15-16°C when ripe

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Rock garden
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Dead or damaged fronds may be removed as necessary

Pests

Generally pest-free outdoors

Diseases

Generally disease-free outdoors