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Ferns

Woodwardia orientalis var. formosana

Taiwanese oriental chain fern

A vigorous fern with an arching habit forming a plant up to 3m wide. Individual bipinnately-divided fronds can reach up to 2m in length; young fronds vary in colour but often emerge orange-red before maturing to a glossy green; many tiny plantlets are produced on the upper surfaces of the fronds

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Clay

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–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: Blechnaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Woodwardia are robust rhizomatous ferns with deciduous or evergreen, pinnate to bipinnate fronds, bearing spores in chain-like lines on the undersides
Name status: Correct
Plant range: China, Japan, Taiwan

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in neutral, moderately fertile, damp soil in partial shade; in frost prone areas shelter from cold, drying winds and protect in winter with a dry mulch. See how to grow ferns for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by spores; sow spores at 16°C in late summer or early autumn. Remove plantlets in autumn or divide in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Patio and container plants
Cottage and informal garden
Banks and slopes
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut down old fronds when they deteriorate

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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