Soft shield fern

Soft shield fern: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Broad, spreading rosette 60–70 cm tall and 80–90 cm wide. The fronds arch gracefully outwards.

Fronds

Twice divided, even more finely in some forms, soft and lace-like. Each leaflet has a short stalk and a fine, bristle-like tip.

Stalk

Covered in light brown scales. The young croziers are completely clothed in pale, silvery-brown scales.

Spores

Round clusters of spores under the leaflets in summer. Ferns do not flower.

Bulbils

In ‘Proliferum’ and similar forms, small buds grow along the midrib and turn into young ferns.

Plants: March–May and September–October · Pruning: March

Why grow it?

• Evergreen: a fresh green presence in the shade garden, even in midwinter.
• Its fine, soft fronds add texture and soften hard edges and walls.
• Copes with lime and, once established, with fairly dry shade, for example under trees.
• Native and at home in a wildlife garden.
• Easy: one tidy-up in March and hardly any other work.

Soft shield fern: where does it grow best?

• Partial or full shade. Morning sun is fine, but strong midday sun scorches the fronds.
• Humus-rich, well-drained soil: sand, loam or clay, from acid to chalky.
• Normally moist. Once established it tolerates fairly dry shade, but not waterlogging.
• Allow 70–90 cm between plants: it grows wider than tall.

Light

Partial shade and shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal

Size

0.7 m tall, 0.9 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -20 °C)

Goes well with

• Hellebore: Flowers in winter beside the evergreen fronds.
• Epimedium: An evergreen ground cover for dry shade.
• Snowdrop: Small white flowers among the ferns in February.
• Wood anemone: A white carpet in spring.
• Hosta: Large leaves as a contrast to the fine, lacy fronds.

Soft shield fern: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May and September–October.

1. Plant in March–May or September–October, when the soil is moist and not frozen.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot and mix in leaf mould or compost.
3. Set the crown level with the soil surface, never deeper, or it will rot.
4. Space plants 70–90 cm apart so the fronds can spread freely.
5. Water in well straight away and mulch with leaf mould.

Care

Water

Water in dry spells in the first year. After that it usually looks after itself, except in long dry periods.

Feeding

Not needed. A layer of leaf mould or compost in spring is enough.

Mulching

Leave autumn leaves around the plant or spread leaf mould in spring.

Old fronds

The fronds stay green all winter. Only cut them off in March.

Tip: If you need a fern for dry shade under trees, choose this one: once established it manages with little water. Do water it regularly in its first year, though, so it roots in well.

Soft shield fern: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March.

When: In March, just before the new croziers unfurl.

How:

• Cut last year’s fronds off at the base, just above the crown.
• This shows off the new, silvery-brown croziers and makes the plant look fresh again.
• Take care not to damage the young croziers in the centre.
• During the season, only cut off damaged or brown fronds.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Bulbils

For forms with bulbils: in late summer or autumn, lay a frond bearing bulbils on a tray of moist cutting compost, pin it down and cover with glass or plastic. After a few months young ferns grow from it; pot them up separately.

Division

Older plants with several crowns can be divided in March–April. Each piece needs its own crown and roots.

Spores

Sowing spores on moist, sterile compost under glass is also possible, but takes a lot of patience.

Soft shield fern: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −20 °C.

• Hardy to about −20 °C and evergreen: no protection is needed in an ordinary Belgian winter.
• Leave the fronds all winter: they protect the crown and look lovely with frost on them.
• After hard frost the fronds may turn brown. The plant simply sprouts again in spring.
• Stand a pot against a wall, sheltered from hard frost and waterlogging.

Diseases and pests

• Crown rot: In wet, poorly drained soil the crown may rot. Plant a little higher or improve the drainage.
• Slugs: They sometimes nibble the young croziers. Pick them off in the evening.
• Brown fronds: After hard frost, drying wind or strong sun. Cut them off in March; the plant recovers.
• Vine weevil: The white larvae eat the roots, especially of plants in pots. If the plant suddenly wilts, check the roots and use nematodes if needed.

Through the year

• January: Rest. The fronds stay green.
• March: Cut away old fronds. Plant or divide.
• April: New croziers unfurl. Watch for slugs.
• May: Plant. Mulch with leaf mould.
• July: Water in long dry spells.
• August: Spores ripen.
• September: Plant. Pin down fronds with bulbils.
• October: Plant. Leave autumn leaves around the base.
• December: The evergreen fronds brighten the shade garden.

Did you know?

• The Latin name setiferum means bristle-bearing, after the fine, soft tip on each leaflet.
• Polystichum comes from the Greek polys, many, and stichos, row, after the rows of spore clusters on the fronds.
• In the 19th century Britain went through a real fern craze. Many of the unusual forms of this fern were found and collected at that time.