Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Fern
  
Perennial
  
Origin
Australia
  
World, Pandemic, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia
  
Types
Polystichum solitarium
  
Alizes
Bumblebee Deelite
Maui Moonlight
Langport Wren
Sarah Taylor
Titan's Glory
Thornbird
Jane Phillips
Orinoco Flow
  
Habitat
Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Dappled Shade
  
gardens, Hillside, Riverbanks, Warmer regions, Wet forest
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
  
-9999
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
  
Not Available
  
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
Not Available
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Not Available
  
White, Yellow, Blue, Purple, Orange, Pink, Rose, Coral, Peach, Burgundy, Lavender, Plum, Orange Red, Dark Salmon, Bronze, Chocolate, Black
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green
  
Light Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Saw-tooth like
  
Long Linear
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Not Available
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
All year
  
Not Available
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Divison, From Rhizomes, Spores
  
From Rhizomes, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
when new, water every week
  
Does not require lot of watering, Keep ground moist, Water when soil is dry
  
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, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires very little pruning
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
  
Bacterial Diseases, Fungal Diseases, Viruses
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
  
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
Coarse
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Bees, Butterflies
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Asthma
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beautification, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Poultice, Sore throat, Tonsillitis
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root, Stem
  
Flowers, Leaves, Rhizomes, Root
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Making Perfumes, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Used as a sedative, Used as essential oil
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Tropical, Water Gardens
  
Bedding Plant, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Botanical Name
Polystichum munitum
  
IRIS
  
Common Name
Swordfern, western swordfern
  
Iris
  
In Hindi
Swordfern
  
Iris
  
In German
Sword Fern
  
Iris
  
In French
Epée Fern
  
Iris
  
In Spanish
helecho espada
  
Iris
  
In Greek
ξίφος φτέρη
  
Ίρις
  
In Portuguese
espada Fern
  
Íris
  
In Polish
Miecz Fern
  
Irys
  
In Latin
Fern gladio
  
Iris
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Pteridophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Filicopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Polypodiales
  
Asparagales
  
Family
Dryopteridaceae
  
Iridaceae
  
Genus
Polystichum
  
Iris
  
Clade
Not Available
  
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Irideae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Iridoideae