Polypodium virginianum
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Tried and True Recommended by 1 Professional
Species Native to Missouri
Common Name: American wall fern
Type: Fern
Family: Polypodiaceae
Zone: 3 to 8
Native Range: Eastern Asia, North America
Height: 0.5 to 1 feet
Spread: 0.5 to 1 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Bloom Color: 
Bloom Description: Non-flowering
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Leaves: Evergreen
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerates: Dry Soil, Shallow, Rocky Soil, Drought, Rabbits
Uses: Will Naturalize

Culture

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Prefers moist, humusy, somewhat infertile soils that drain well. Can be difficult to establish, but once adapted will naturalizes over time into large colonies by branched, creeping rhizomes.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Common polypody (also Virginiana polypody, rockcap fern or American wall fern) is native to the eastern and central U. S. and Canada. In Missouri, it occurs on boulders, rocks, ledges and bluff crevices of sandstone, chert or granite, primarily in the eastern Ozark region (Steyermark). It is very similar in appearance to P. vulgare, and has been listed in the past by some experts as P. vulgare var. virginianum. This is an evergreen fern that grows in creeping clumps to 10” tall with erect to arching, leathery, oblong-lanceolate to triangular, deeply-cut, pinnately lobed fronds. Recent research indicates this plant is a naturally occurring fertile hybrid of P. appalachianum and P. sibiricum, neither of which are native to Missouri.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems.

Garden Uses

Mass or group in rock gardens, wild gardens, native plant gardens or naturalized rocky woodland areas.

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