Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Fern
Herbs, Perennial
Origin
Australia
South-Eastern Asia
Types
Polystichum solitarium
-
Number of Varieties
120
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Dappled Shade
Semi desert, Wet forest
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-119-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12 - 9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
-
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
120.00 cm460.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm20.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Saw-tooth like
Elliptic
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Shade, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
All year
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Divison, From Rhizomes, Spores
Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
when new, water every week
Average Water Needs, Needs good drainage
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
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Shade, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut away fading foliage, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Don't use high pH fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Aphids, Downy mildew, Dry root rot, Rust, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
Heat Tolerance, Humidity
Flowers
-
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Aphids, Bees, Butterflies, Snails
Allergy
-
Dizziness, Mouth itching, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Good Cleanser, Good for the Scalp
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals
Air purification, Insect Repellent
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Poultice, Sore throat, Tonsillitis
Antipyretic, Bronchitis, Cough, Digestive disorders, Ear infections, Expectorant, Laxative, Migraines, Piles, Rheumatism, Throat infection, Treating fever
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root, Stem
Bark, Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Biomass for fuel, Can be made into a herbal tea, Culinary use, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Used as a laxative
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Tropical, Water Gardens
Container, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
Polystichum munitum
Justicia adhatoda
Common Name
Swordfern, western swordfern
Malabar nut, Adulsa, Adhatoda, Vasaka
In Hindi
Swordfern
अडुळसा, अडुसा
In German
Sword Fern
Indisches Lungenkraut
In French
Epée Fern
Justicia adhatoda
In Spanish
helecho espada
Justicia adhatoda
In Greek
ξίφος φτέρη
Justicia adhatoda
In Portuguese
espada Fern
Justicia adhatoda
In Polish
Miecz Fern
Justicia adhatoda
In Latin
Fern gladio
Justicia adhatoda
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Pteridophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Filicopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Polypodiales
Scrophulariales
Family
Dryopteridaceae
Acanthaceae
Genus
Polystichum
Justicia
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
-
Justicieae
Subfamily
-
Acanthoideae
Number of Species
260658
1
27800
👆🏻