Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Fern
  
Perennial
  
Origin
Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Western Europe, Turkey
  
Eastern Europe
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Dappled Shade
  
Terrestrial
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-9
  
4-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
9-5
  
9-1
  
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, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Not Available
  
Yellow, Lavender, Blue Violet
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Green, Sea Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Green, Sea Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Green, Sea Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
  
Light Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Saw-tooth like
  
Lanceolate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
All year
  
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Divison, From Rhizomes, Spores
  
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
when new, water every week
  
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well 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
Red blotch
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
None
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Coarse
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Not Available
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Skin irritation
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Poultice, Sore throat, Tonsillitis
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root, Stem
  
Not Available
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Tropical, Water Gardens
  
Alpine, Edging, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Botanical Name
POLYSTICHUM setiferum
  
IRIS pumila
  
Common Name
Alaska fern
  
Dwarf Iris
  
In Hindi
Soft Shield Fern
  
Dwarf Iris
  
In German
Grannen-Schildfarn
  
Zwergiris
  
In French
Soft Shield Fern
  
Dwarf Iris
  
In Spanish
Soft Shield Fern
  
Enano Iris
  
In Greek
Soft Shield Fern
  
νάνος Ίρις
  
In Portuguese
Soft Shield Fern
  
Dwarf Iris
  
In Polish
Soft Shield Fern
  
Dwarf Iris
  
In Latin
Soft Shield Fern
  
Iris Dwarf
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Pteridophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Filicopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Polypodiales
  
Liliales
  
Family
Dryopteridaceae
  
Iridaceae
  
Genus
Polystichum
  
Iris
  
Clade
Not Available
  
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Irideae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Iridoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available