Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Western Europe, Turkey
Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Europe, Nepal, Southern Asia, Southern Europe
Types
Fern
Myristica fragrans
Habitat
Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Dappled Shade
Cold Regions, Hills, Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-9
9-11
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, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Shape
Saw-tooth like
Oval
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
All year
Sunlight
Full Shade, Partial shade
Full Sun
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
All year
Late Spring, Early Summer
Tolerances
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Divison, From Rhizomes, Spores
Budding, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
when new, water every week
Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Shade, Partial shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
In Early Autumn, Prune to stimulate growth, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
fertilize in spring, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Anthracnose, Armillaria mellea, Blight, Caterpillars, Crown gall, Crown rot, fungus, Powdery mildew, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Frost
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Yes
Foliage Texture
Fine
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Aphids, Bees, Beetles, Caterpillar, Small mammals
Allergy
-
Abdominal distension, flushing of face, hallucinations, Headache, Pollen
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Good for skin and hair
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Absorbs greenhouse gases, Absorbs huge amounts of CO2, Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Erosion control, Food for birds, Food for insects, Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Windbreak
Medicinal Uses
Poultice, Sore throat, Tonsillitis
Anemia, anti-cancer, Antispasmodic, Asthma, Diarrhea, Healing, Stomach spasms, Thoat infection
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root, Stem
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Making deodorants, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Oil is used in mosquito repellents, Used as a laxative, Used for its medicinal properties, Used for making soaps, Used in biomass
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Tropical, Water Gardens
Container, Groundcover
Botanical Name
POLYSTICHUM setiferum
Myristica fragrans
Common Name
Alaska fern
Nutmeg
In Hindi
Soft Shield Fern
जायफल
In German
Grannen-Schildfarn
Muskatnuss
In French
Soft Shield Fern
noix de muscade
In Spanish
Soft Shield Fern
nuez moscada
In Greek
Soft Shield Fern
μοσχοκάρυδο
In Portuguese
Soft Shield Fern
noz-moscada
In Polish
Soft Shield Fern
gałka muszkatołowa
In Latin
Soft Shield Fern
nutmeg
Phylum
Pteridophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Filicopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Polypodiales
Magnoliales
Family
Dryopteridaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Polystichum
Myristica
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Monocots
Importance of Soft Shield Fern and Nutmeg
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Soft Shield Fern and Nutmeg. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Soft Shield Fern and Nutmeg 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 Nutmeg is Anemia, anti-cancer, Antispasmodic, Asthma, Diarrhea, Healing, Stomach spasms and Thoat infection. Soft Shield Fern has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin while Nutmeg has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin.
Compare Facts of Soft Shield Fern vs Nutmeg
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 Nutmeg 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 whereas of Nutmeg have Abdominal distension, flushing of face, hallucinations, Headache and Pollen 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 Nutmeg has no showy fruits. Also Soft Shield Fern is not flowering and Nutmeg is not flowering . You can compare Soft Shield Fern and Nutmeg facts and facts of other plants too.