Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Fern
  
Grass
  
Origin
Australia
  
Hybrid origin
  
Types
Polystichum solitarium
  
Alta fescue, Kentucky fescue
  
Habitat
Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Dappled Shade
  
meadows, Well Drained, yards
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
  
5-8
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
  
8 - 5
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
  
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Not Available
  
Pale White
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
  
Blue Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
  
Blue Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Tan
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Saw-tooth like
  
Grass like
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
All year
  
Not Available
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Divison, From Rhizomes, Spores
  
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
when new, water every week
  
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Never Over-water
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Prune after flowering, Prune for size control, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
  
Brown patch, Gray leaf blight, Pythium blight, Rust, Zoysia patch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
  
Full Sun, Heat And Humidity
  
Flowers
None
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
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
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Mealybugs, Mites
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Skin rash, Vomiting, Watery eyes
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Ground Cover, Used in parkland
  
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals
  
Fixes Nitrogen, Prevent Soil Erosion
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Poultice, Sore throat, Tonsillitis
  
Antispasmodic
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root, Stem
  
Whole plant
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Animal Feed, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Tropical, Water Gardens
  
Groundcover, Lawns and Turf
  
Botanical Name
Polystichum munitum
  
Festuca arundinacea
  
Common Name
Swordfern, western swordfern
  
Tall Fescue
  
In Hindi
Swordfern
  
tall fescue
  
In German
Sword Fern
  
Rohr-Schwingel
  
In French
Epée Fern
  
Festuca arundinacea
  
In Spanish
helecho espada
  
Festuca arundinacea
  
In Greek
ξίφος φτέρη
  
tall fescue
  
In Portuguese
espada Fern
  
Festuca arundinacea
  
In Polish
Miecz Fern
  
Kostrzewa trzcinowa
  
In Latin
Fern gladio
  
tall fescue
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Pteridophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Filicopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Polypodiales
  
Cyperales
  
Family
Dryopteridaceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Polystichum
  
Festuca
  
Clade
Not Available
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available