Plant Lust
ShopOrderSellblog
0

  • Plant types

  • Plant styles

  • Planting conditions

  • Seasonal interest

  • Nurseries & Gardens

    • Photo of Polypodium vulgare spores by Anneli Salo

    Photo by Anneli Salo

    This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

    Show all photos

    Polypodium vulgare

    Also Known As

    • Polypody Fern

    Plant type

    fern

    size

    • H: 8"-12"
    • W: 24"-36"

    planting zones

    • 5a-9b

    More Options

    Polypodium vulgare plant details

    Polypodium vulgare is an evergreen fern with green foliage. Features glossy texture. Grows well with mostly sun - shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in average and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something humidity tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Polypodium vulgare

    Plant type: fern
    Plant family: polypodiaceae
    Foliage: evergreen green
    Mature size: 24 IN - 36 IN - wide, 8 IN - 12 IN - tall
    Uses: easy-to-grow, edible, medicinal, woodland garden, year round interest

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Polypodium vulgare

    USDA Zones: 5a - 9b
    Sun exposure: mostly sun - shade
    Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
    Resistant to: deer, humidity and verticillium wilt
    Soil needs: average and well-drained

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    Common polypody (Polypodium vulgare) is an epiphytic and lithophytic species from the old world that grows on trees and walls and in rocky habitats. It has triangular, leathery mid green fronds about 12 inches long that arise from horizontal rhizomes. Common polypody is somewhat drought tolerant once established and can remain evergreen with year-round moisture. If conditions get too dry it will go dormant for summer but then reflush in the fall. Grow it in hanging baskets, in shady crevices or on thin evenly moist soils as a ground cover. Photo: Wikimedia.

    By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

    Don’t let the delicate looks of this fern fool you – it’s tough, time tested and easy to grow. The mature leaves on this beauty are heavily frilled, evergreen and 8-12” tall. It’s creeping rhizomes are happy in old logs, on stone walls and around rocks. It will tolerate some morning sun, but like most ferns, prefers shade. Needs some summer moisture, but less than other ferns. If your soil is very acidic, you might want to add a little lime. USDA Z5 3” pot

    By: Secret Garden Growers

    Zn 3. Long slender fronds. Evergreen

    By: Little Prince of Oregon

    Gardening facts about Polypodium vulgare plant

    How to Grow Polypodium vulgare

    • Sun Exposure

      • mostly sun - shade

    • Water Needs

      • even moisture - regular

    • Soil Needs

      • average
      • well-drained

    • Special Situation

      • humidity tolerant
      • verticillium wilt resistant

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • green

    • Wildlife

      • deer resistant

    • Foliage Season

      • evergreen

    • Texture

      • glossy

    See other plant types of Polypodium for your garden

    Phlebodium pseudoaureum

    aka Polypodium areolatum, Polypodium pseudo-aureum 'Virginia Blue', Polypodium pseudoaureum, Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern, Virginia Blue Fern

    Plant Type

    Fern

    Zones

    8a-12

    Size

    Height: 12"-24"

    Width: 12"-24"

    • bright shade - shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Phlebodium pseudoaureum foliage by plant lust
    View Plant

    Polypodiodes formosana

    aka Goniophlebium formosanum, Marginaria formosana, Polypodium formosanum, Polypodium liukiuense, Caterpillar Fern, Grub Fern

    Plant Type

    Fern

    Zones

    9b-11

    Size

    Height: 12"-24"

    Width: 12"-24"

    • shade
    • even moisture
    Photo of Polypodiodes formosana close-up, foliage by Stan Shebs
    View Plant

    Polypodium scouleri

    aka Coast Plypodium, Evergreen Licorice Fern, Leather-leaf Fern, Leathery Polypodium

    Plant Type

    Fern

    Zones

    7a-10b

    Size

    Height: 8"-12"

    Width: 12"-36"

    • bright shade - shade
    • regular - drought tolerant
    Photo of Polypodium scouleri foliage, form by srloarie2
    View Plant

    More Options

    Angiopteris evecta

    aka Polypodium evectum, Giant Elephant Fern, Giant Fern, King Fern, Madagascar Tree Fern, Mule's Foot Fern, Oriental Vessel Fern

    Plant Type

    Fern

    Zones

    10b-12

    Size

    Height: 12'-15'

    Width: 20'-40'

    • bright shade - shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Angiopteris evecta form by Forest & Kim Starr
    View Plant

    Cyathea medullaris

    aka Cyathea affinis, Polypodium medullare, Sphaeropteris medullaris, Black Tree Fern, Korau, Mamaku, Sago Fern

    Plant Type

    Tree, Fern

    Zones

    9b-12

    Size

    Height: 20'-40'

    Width: 10'-16'

    • sun - dappled shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Cyathea medullaris form by Peter Richardson
    View Plant
    +16 more Polypodium
    Mailing List
    Sign Up for updates on new plant arrivals and deals

    © 2010—2026 Plant Lust, LLC All Rights Reserved