Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Fern
Sedge or Rush
Origin
Australia
Madagascar
Types
Polystichum solitarium
Cyperus involucratus, Cyperus albostriatus
Number of Varieties
120
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Dappled Shade
Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-118-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
120.00 cm45.70 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm45.70 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Yellow green, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Saw-tooth like
Subulate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Shade, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
All year
Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Divison, From Rhizomes, Spores
Cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
when new, water every week
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Poorly Drained
Sun Exposure
Full Shade, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Red spider mite, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
Drought
Flowers
-
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Poultice, Sore throat, Tonsillitis
Antibacterial, Antifungal
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root, Stem
Root
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
-
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Tropical, Water Gardens
Bog Garden, Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Tropical, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
Polystichum munitum
Cyperus Alternifolius
Common Name
Swordfern, western swordfern
Umbrella Papyrus, Umbrella Sedge, Umbrella Palm, Umbrella Plant
In Hindi
Swordfern
Umbrella Plant
In German
Sword Fern
Dach-Anlage
In French
Epée Fern
Parapluie Plante
In Spanish
helecho espada
Umbrella Plant
In Greek
ξίφος φτέρη
ομπρέλα φυτών
In Portuguese
espada Fern
Planta do guarda-chuva
In Polish
Miecz Fern
parasol roślin
In Latin
Fern gladio
O Planta
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Pteridophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Filicopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Polypodiales
Poales
Family
Dryopteridaceae
Cyperaceae
Genus
Polystichum
Cyperus
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
Cypereae
Subfamily
-
Cyperoideae
Number of Species
260700
1
27800
👆🏻