Care of the plant Polypodium vulgare or Common polypody |
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The genus Polypodium, family Polypodiaceae, comprises about 100 species of ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution. Some species are: Polypodium vulgare, Polypodium cambricum, Polypodium argentinum, Polypodium scouleri, Polypodium nipponicum, Polypodium crassifolium, Polypodium californicum. Common name: Common polypody. This species is native to Europe. They are evergreen ferns with creeping rhizome that reach 30 cm (11.8") in height. The fronds (leaves) are deeply lobed and dark green. In winter the lobes are folded upwards. They do not produce flowers but do produce reddish sporangia on the underside. They are used in undergrowth, in wall cracks, in shady rockeries, in edging and in pots for patios and terraces and as indoor plants. The rhizome has medicinal properties. The Polypodium vulgare prefers a shady exposure but it also grows in semi-shade, avoiding direct sun during the central hours of the day. It resists low intensity frosts. They prefer a soil rich in organic matter and well drained but they also grow on calcareous and stony soils. They do not resist transplantation well. Water regularly, waiting for the substrate to be almost dry. Spray the fronds frequently in spring and summer; they resist the drought of the substratum but not the environmental dryness. They do not need fertilizer. Prune dry fronds at any season of the year. They are plants quite resistant to the usual pests and diseases. Indoors they can be attacked by mealybugs if ventilation is poor. They are easily propagated by division of the rhizome in early spring. |
Images of the plant Polypodium vulgare or Common polypody |
 Polypodium vulgare  Polypodium vulgare |