How to Grow Polypody Fern
Polypodium vulgare
Polypody is a tough, low-growing evergreen fern with deeply lobed, leathery fronds 15–40 cm long. Unlike most ferns it thrives in dry shade and happily colonises old walls, rocky banks, and tree bases — one of the most drought-tolerant ferns for a shady garden. It spreads slowly by creeping rhizome to form a dense, weed-suppressing carpet. Almost completely maintenance-free once established. Fronds stay green all winter, giving year-round structure in the trickiest dry, shaded corners.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
No feeding required. Polypody thrives in poor, lean soil — rich feeding produces lush but soft, untypical growth. A light top-dressing of leaf mould in spring is beneficial but entirely optional.
Watch For
- Vine weevil larvae in containers (cream C-shaped grubs damage roots)
- Scale insects on rhizomes in dry conditions
- Crown rot in waterlogged or heavy clay soil (needs good drainage)
Care Requirements
Light
Partial to full shade; avoid direct sun.
Thrives in dappled woodland light or full shade. Tolerates more sun than most ferns if drainage is excellent, but prolonged direct sun bleaches and scorches the fronds.
Watering
Low water needs once established; good drainage essential.
Water during the first season to help establishment. Once settled, polypody is remarkably drought-tolerant and rarely needs supplementary watering. Never plant in waterlogged soil — poor drainage kills it faster than drought.
Fertilizing
No feeding needed; lean soil preferred.
Polypody thrives in poor, humus-rich but lean soil. Over-feeding produces soft, atypical growth. A light top-dressing of leaf mould in spring is all that benefits this plant.
Pruning
Minimal — cut tatty fronds in midsummer if needed.
Fronds renew in late summer and autumn (not spring like most ferns). If the old fronds look ragged by midsummer, cut them back to the rhizome. In most years no pruning is needed at all.
Spacing
35-45 cm apart.
Allow 35-45 cm between plants. The creeping rhizome will slowly fill gaps over time. For quick ground cover, plant at 30 cm spacing.
Support
No support needed.
Polypody is a low, ground-hugging fern that requires no staking or support. The rhizome anchors it firmly to walls, rocks, or soil.
Growing Tips
Perfect for walls and rocky spots
Polypody is one of the few ferns that genuinely thrives on old walls, rocky banks, and dry stone edges. The creeping rhizome grips onto surfaces where other plants fail — it even grows on tree trunks in woodland.
Don't water it to death
This fern is adapted to drought and good drainage. Overwatering or planting in waterlogged soil is the most common cause of failure. If in doubt, plant it in a drier spot than you think it needs.
Fronds renew in late summer
Old fronds are replaced by fresh ones in late summer and autumn — the opposite of most ferns. If the fronds look tatty by midsummer, simply cut them back and new growth will follow.
Use as ground cover under trees
Polypody's tolerance of dry, rooty shade under mature trees makes it ideal as low ground cover where most plants struggle. It forms a weed-suppressing carpet over time.
