Scientific name: Polystichum setiferum Divisilobum Group
Synonym: Polystichum setiferum ‘Divisilobum’
Family: DRYOPTERIDACEAE
Common names: “Soft shield fern”
Plant Type: Evergreen perennial fern
Conditions:
Zone: 6-9
Light: Semi-shade best – deep shade
Exposure: Sheltered
Soil: Humus rich, moderately fertile, less clay
Moisture: Moist well drained – handles drought in shade
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: 20-28″ H & W
Leaf and Stem shape: soft-textured, arching 3-pinnate fronds, bulbils are often produced along the midrib of the frond
Maintenance: Low, cut back in mid march before new fronds emerge
Landscape use: Groundcover, fernery, woodland garden,
Propagate: By spores, rhizome division and bulbils
Pests & Disease: Generally healthy, may get pests if kept indoors or in a greenhouse
*Deer resistant
Comments: ~AGM winner
Cultivars: ~AGM winners: Polystichum setiferum, P. s. ‘Pulcherrimum Bevis’ , P. s. Divisilobum Group ‘Devisilobum densum’ & ‘Divisilobum Iveryanum’