Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Grass
  
Fern
  
Origin
United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Canada
  
Australia
  
Types
Not Available
  
Polystichum solitarium
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Damp shady woods
  
Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Dappled Shade
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-9
  
9-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 5
  
12-1
  
Sunset Zone
3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17
  
H1, H2
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Arching/Fountain-shaped
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green, Yellow green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
  
Saw-tooth like
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer
  
All year
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Wet Site
  
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings
  
Divison, From Rhizomes, Spores
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering
  
when new, water every week
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize in growing season
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
  
Pests and diseases free
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
None
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Coarse
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Ground Cover, Showy Purposes
  
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Good for skin
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Food for animals
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
Poultice, Sore throat, Tonsillitis
  
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
  
Leaves, Root, Stem
  
Other Uses
Not Available
  
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Wildflower
  
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Tropical, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
MILIUM effusum
  
Polystichum munitum
  
Common Name
Millet Grass, Wood Millet
  
Swordfern, western swordfern
  
In Hindi
Milium effusum
  
Swordfern
  
In German
Wald-Flattergras
  
Sword Fern
  
In French
millet étalé
  
Epée Fern
  
In Spanish
effusum milium
  
helecho espada
  
In Greek
milium effusum
  
ξίφος φτέρη
  
In Portuguese
milium effusum
  
espada Fern
  
In Polish
prosownica rozpierzchła
  
Miecz Fern
  
In Latin
milium effusum
  
Fern gladio
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Pteridophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Filicopsida
  
Order
Cyperales
  
Polypodiales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Dryopteridaceae
  
Genus
Milium
  
Polystichum
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Not Available
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available