Western Sword Fern (Polystichum Munitum) – 1 Gallon Pot

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One of the most robust and reliable of the North American native hardy ferns, and presented the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society for good reasons, Polystichum munitum, commonly called the Western Sword or Giant Holly Fern, is an evergreen to semi-evergreen species that thrives in the garden but can also be grown indoors as a houseplant year round. At 3 to 4 feet tall and wide, it features a beautiful fountain-like clump of up to 100 large, arching, dark green, erect fronds that are pinnately compound with alternate, pointed, sharp-toothed leaflets. Each sword-like leaflet has a small lobe that points forward at the base, like a saber, hence the common name. In early spring, attractive fiddleheads (young fronds) emerge and unfurl in a frond that can be 4 to 6 feet long. A shade lover, the Western Sword Fern is a wonderful accent, grouping or mass planting in woodland and shade gardens in the ground or in containers that can be situated in or around outdoor and indoor sitting and living spaces.

Growing 3 to 4 feet tall and equally as wide, the Western Sword Fern is ideal for use as a specimen accent in smaller garden spaces or containers that can be situated in or around outdoor or indoor sitting and living spaces. Where spaces allows it can be planted in groupings or mass plantings and looks great around boulders or near the garden ponds or other bodies of water or beneath the canopies of large trees. Just make sure its permanent home gets no direct afternoon sun. Filtered all-day sun or morning or evening sun are okay. A fine addition to native plant gardens, fern gardens, woodland gardens and shady rock gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 3 feet apart for mass planting; 7 feet or more apart for space between plants