Description
Sold as bundle of 5 plugs.
At a Glance: Large evergreen fern with leaves forming a crown.
Height: around 1.5m tall
Leaves: alternate leaflets, blade is lance shaped, each leaflet has a small lobe (sword handle or thumbs-up) pointing forward at the bottom
Sori: large circular; found on underside of the leaflets
Appeal: This beautiful fern requires little to no care once established and is competitive against invasive species.
Helpful Tips: Sword fern does not do well in full sun unless supplied with consistently moist soil. With the right conditions they will thrive with little or no care after planting. Sword ferns have a high success rate in partial or full shade. Mulching will help increase your success rate! As with any new planting, it should be watered during the dry season for the first 2-3 years. Plant in moist area. Click HERE to determine your recommended planting density. (2)
Ethnobotany: Many Native American tribes used the leaves to line cooking pits, as flooring and as bedding. Rhizome was roasted, peeled and eaten as a starvation food. The nuu-chah-nulth used the rhizome as a cure for diarrhea. (1)
| Sun/Shade Tolerance | Hydrology | Elevation Range |
 full sun > 80% mostly sunny 60%-80% partial sun and shade 40%- 60% mostly shady 60%-80% full shade > 80% |
wet moist dry
|
low elevation mid elevation sub-alpine high elevation
|
| Wildlife Value | |
|
Berries Seeds Nectar for hummingbirds Nectar for butterflies Host for insect larvae Thickets and shelter Thorny or protective cover |
Mammals: Deer and elk browse the new leaves. Used as shelter for small mammals and young. |
References:
1-Pojar, Jim, and Andy MacKinnon. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska. Revised ed. Redmond, Wash.: B.C. Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Pub., 2004. Print.
2-“Sound Native Plants.” Sound Native Plants. Web. 31 Oct. 2014. www.soundnativeplants.com.
