Japanese Lace Fern - Polystichum polyblepharum - British Grown - Hardy Evergreen Fern
Sprouts of BristolScientific Name
Polystichum polyblepharum (many-rowed, many-eyed plant)
An evergreen fern with bronze and bright green fronds growing in bushy mounds. Hardy throughout the UK below -20°C.
Fern: Tufted growth habit
Perennial: Evergreen
Common Name(s)
Japanese Lace Fern, Japanese Tassel Fern
Origin
Native to East Asia
Description
This plant is great for the low-maintenance gardener; pick a shady spot and just make sure it has fertile soil and this fern will reward you with foliage in bronze and green, bringing a splash of spring colour to any corner of the garden. As long as it doesn't sit in winter puddles, this plant is happy in a shady, sheltered spot, and its foliage will keep growing year on year.
Months of Interest
Foliage year-round; new growth comes through bronze in spring.
Pruning Tips
Remove dead fronds before the new ones unfurl.
Wildlife Value
No specific wildlife benefit known in the UK. Ferns do, however, help with soil stability in your garden, preventing erosion and adding organic material to the soil over time.
Positioning
Full to partial shade is ideal for this fern; a sheltered spot would also be ideal.
Water
The crown of the plant should be in moist soil but protected from excessive winter rain.
Soil
Use fertile, well-drained and humus-rich soil to keep this plant happy.
Food
A mulch layer around the crown will help keep the soil fertile; mulch regularly as the plant uses up the nutrients in the soil.
Pet-safe?
Yes- no toxicity reported, though it's best for the plant and your pets if they don't nibble too much!
Sprouts Top Tips
To keep this plant happy, it likes moist soil but doesn't want to be sat in a puddle. Adding a layer of mulch around the crown of the plant can help protect it from excessive water, as well as keeping the soil below damp in summer. This will also add nutrients to the soil- so one step will do all the care you need for this plant.
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