Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Western Europe, Turkey
Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Southwestern United States, Texas, Canada, Mexico
Types
Not Available
Not Available
Habitat
Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Dappled Shade
Dry areas, Prairies, Rocky areas, rocky outcrops
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-9
3-10
Sunset Zone
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 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
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Not Available
Yellow, Purple, Burgundy, Light Green, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Not Available
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Saw-tooth like
Subulate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer
Sunlight
Full Shade, Partial shade
Full Sun
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
All year
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
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
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
when new, water every week
Average Water Needs, Water in morning to avoid prompting diseases
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
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
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut or pinch the stems, Pinch Tips, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry Conditions, Dry soil, Full Sun
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Fine
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Invasive
Not Available
No
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Not Available
Rhinitis
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Borders
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Not Available
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Poultice, Sore throat, Tonsillitis
Analgesic
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root, Stem
Flowers
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Can be made into a herbal tea, Used in making tea
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, Wildflower
Botanical Name
POLYSTICHUM setiferum
RATIBIDA columnifera
Common Name
Alaska fern
Mexican Hat
In Hindi
Soft Shield Fern
Mexican Hat
In German
Grannen-Schildfarn
Mexican Hat
In French
Soft Shield Fern
Mexican Hat
In Spanish
Soft Shield Fern
mexican Hat
In Greek
Soft Shield Fern
Mexican Hat
In Portuguese
Soft Shield Fern
Mexican Hat
In Polish
Soft Shield Fern
Mexican Hat
In Latin
Soft Shield Fern
Mexicanus Hat
Phylum
Pteridophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Filicopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Polypodiales
Asterales
Family
Dryopteridaceae
Asteraceae
Genus
Polystichum
Ratibida
Clade
Not Available
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Not Available
Not Available
Subfamily
Not Available
Not Available
Number of Species
Not Available
Not Available
Importance of Soft Shield Fern and Mexican Hat
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Soft Shield Fern and Mexican Hat. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Soft Shield Fern and Mexican Hat as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Soft Shield Fern is Poultice, Sore throat and Tonsillitis whereas of Mexican Hat is Analgesic. Soft Shield Fern has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin while Mexican Hat has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin.
Compare Facts of Soft Shield Fern vs Mexican Hat
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Soft Shield Fern vs Mexican Hat and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Soft Shield Fern are Not Available whereas of Mexican Hat have Rhinitis respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Soft Shield Fern has no showy fruits and Mexican Hat has no showy fruits. Also Soft Shield Fern is not flowering and Mexican Hat is not flowering . You can compare Soft Shield Fern and Mexican Hat facts and facts of other plants too.