Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Fern
Herbs, Perennial
Origin
Australia
South-Eastern Asia
Types
Polystichum solitarium
-
Habitat
Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Dappled Shade
Semi desert, Wet forest
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
9-11
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12 - 9
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Clump-Forming
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
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
Leaf Shape
Saw-tooth like
Elliptic
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
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
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 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 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
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Aphids, Bees, Butterflies, Snails
Allergy
-
Dizziness, Mouth itching, Vomiting
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Good Cleanser, Good for the Scalp
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals
Air purification, Insect Repellent
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
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
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
Phylum
Pteridophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Filicopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Polypodiales
Scrophulariales
Family
Dryopteridaceae
Acanthaceae
Genus
Polystichum
Justicia
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Monocots
Importance of Swordfern and Malabar nut
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Swordfern and Malabar nut. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Swordfern and Malabar nut 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 Swordfern is Poultice, Sore throat and Tonsillitis whereas of Malabar nut is Antipyretic, Bronchitis, Cough, Digestive disorders, Ear infections, Expectorant, Laxative, Migraines, Piles, Rheumatism, Throat infection and Treating fever. Swordfern has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin while Malabar nut has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin.
Compare Facts of Swordfern vs Malabar nut
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 Swordfern vs Malabar nut 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 Swordfern are whereas of Malabar nut have Dizziness, Mouth itching and Vomiting respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Swordfern has no showy fruits and Malabar nut has no showy fruits. Also Swordfern is not flowering and Malabar nut is not flowering . You can compare Swordfern and Malabar nut facts and facts of other plants too.