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Ferns For The Shade Garden - Part IV

© Marge Talt

For those of you who have not read my previous articles on ferns, the mini-glossary of fern terms, with a couple of additions from my last article is at the end of this article.

MORE HARDY FERNS

I have two other members of the Polystichum family that are quite different from Christmas Fern and from each other. Polystichum is a very diverse family!

Polystichum setiferum divisilobum (Divided Soft Shield Fern) Unlike Christmas Fern, P. setiferum divisilobum has fronds divided and sub-divided in a precise, lacy pattern. If you look at the frond of the Christmas Fern,you will see that each frond has whole pinnae. Now, visualize each of those pinnae divided into 15 or more pairs of pinnules, each divided into minute sharply pointed lobes and you will have an idea of what this fern looks like. I'm really sorry I couldn't find a photo of this for you.

The supple, dark green fronds are somewhat curved and new ones are produced all season. My plant's form is probably not typical since I have it growing from the vertical face of a drystone wall. I think this location also keeps mine from reaching the potential two to three feet (60 - 91 cm) in height that it is capable of attaining.

I understand that this fern is supposed to produce bulbils at the lower part of the frond mid-rib that can be induced to form new plants. I keep looking for these on my plant, but, so far haven't found any. The back side of the stipe is covered in, for want of the correct term, "ruffles". I know this sounds strange, but that's what they look like to me. If this looked hairy, I think it would be called scale, but it looks more like thin slivers of the stipe have been sliced and then ruffled and tinted a soft cinnamon color. The overall effect of this evergreen fern is quite lovely. For a real contrast in texture, this fern and the next one are worth searching for.

Polystichum setiferum plumoso-divisilobum (Plumose Soft Shield Fern)

This Polystichum takes divided foliage to an even higher level. The pinnules are divided to the fourth and fifth degree, giving a ruffled, mossy effect. The color is lighter than P. s. divisilobum, almost an apple green. It is so divided that the tips look split and curled. Unlike P. s. divisilobum, the pinnules are flat and soft looking.

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