Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Fern
Flowering Plants, Herbs
Origin
Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Western Europe, Turkey
Hybrid origin
Types
Not Available
Not Available
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Dappled Shade
moist forests, Mountains
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-9
4-9
Sunset Zone
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
Not Available
Purple, Pink, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Not Available
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Shape
Saw-tooth like
Pinnate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Sunlight
Full Shade, Partial shade
Full Sun
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
All year
Late Spring, Summer
Tolerances
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Divison, From Rhizomes, Spores
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
when new, water every week
Needs very little water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Shade, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
cut main trunk every 5 years, Prune after flowering, Prune central stem, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Compost
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Nematodes, Red blotch, Trunk Rot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Fine
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Invasive
Not Available
No
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Butterflies, Leaf Hoppers
Allergy
Not Available
Itchiness, Not Available, Sore Throat
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beautification
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes, Removes pimples
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, soil stabilisation
Medicinal Uses
Poultice, Sore throat, Tonsillitis
Cough, Haemorrhages, Laxative, Obesity, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root, Stem
Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Added to salads, Can be boiled and seasoned, pickled, Culinary use
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Tropical, Water Gardens
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
POLYSTICHUM setiferum
Averrhoa bilimbi
Common Name
Alaska fern
Bilimbi, Mimbro
In Hindi
Soft Shield Fern
Bilimbi
In German
Grannen-Schildfarn
bilimbi
In French
Soft Shield Fern
bilimbi
In Spanish
Soft Shield Fern
bilimbi
In Greek
Soft Shield Fern
bilimbi
In Portuguese
Soft Shield Fern
bilimbi
In Polish
Soft Shield Fern
bilimbi
In Latin
Soft Shield Fern
Rondo Beardtongue
Phylum
Pteridophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Filicopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Polypodiales
Oxalidales
Family
Dryopteridaceae
Oxalidaceae
Genus
Polystichum
Averrhoa
Clade
Not Available
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Not Available
Not Available
Subfamily
Not Available
Not Available
Number of Species
Not Available
Season and Care of Soft Shield Fern and Bilimbi
Season and care of Soft Shield Fern and Bilimbi is important to know. While considering everything about Soft Shield Fern and Bilimbi Care, growing season is an essential factor. Soft Shield Fern season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Bilimbi season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Soft Shield Fern is Clay, Loam and for Bilimbi is Clay, Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Soft Shield Fern is Neutral, Alkaline and for Bilimbi is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline.
Soft Shield Fern and Bilimbi Physical Information
Soft Shield Fern and Bilimbi physical information is very important for comparison. Soft Shield Fern height is 90.00 cm and width 60.00 cm whereas Bilimbi height is 38.10 cm and width 25.40 cm. The color specification of Soft Shield Fern and Bilimbi are as follows:
Soft Shield Fern flower color: Not Available
Soft Shield Fern leaf color: Green
Bilimbi flower color: Purple, Pink and Lavender
- Bilimbi leaf color: Green
Care of Soft Shield Fern and Bilimbi
Care of Soft Shield Fern and Bilimbi include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Soft Shield Fern pruning is done Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves and Bilimbi pruning is done cut main trunk every 5 years, Prune after flowering, Prune central stem, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves. In summer Soft Shield Fern needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Bilimbi needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.