Polystichum aculeatum, commonly known as hard shield fern or prickly shield fern, is a bushy evergreen fern from the Dryopteridaceae family. It typically grows to a height and spread of 0.5 to 1 metre, reaching full size within 2 to 5 years. This fern thrives in full or partial shade, favouring north- or east-facing, sheltered aspects. It adapts well to various soil types including chalk, loam, and sand, across a range of pH levels, provided the soil is well-drained. Polystichum aculeatum is a low-maintenance plant valued for its winter interest.

Hard shield fern (Polystichum aculeatum) is a hardy H7 perennial with dark green, leathery fronds, perfect for shaded UK gardens and winter interest.

Polystichum aculeatum

Polystichum craspedosorum is a tufted cultivar of the Polystichum genus, which includes predominantly evergreen ferns with robust, short rhizomes and pinnately divided fronds arranged in rosettes. This evergreen fern thrives in moist, humus-rich soil and is suitable for shaded locations, including full and partial shade with north, east, or west-facing aspects. It is hardy to UK zone H7 and can grow in a variety of soil types and pH levels. Polystichum craspedosorum is ideal for cottage and informal gardens, flower borders, and underplanting roses and shrubs, offering interest in spring and summer.

Polystichum craspedosorum is an evergreen fern with pinnate fronds, thriving in shade and moist soil, ideal for low-maintenance borders and underplanting.

Polystichum craspedosorum

Polystichum lentum is a tufted evergreen fern belonging to the genus Polystichum, known for its robust, short rhizomes and pinnately divided fronds arranged in neat rosettes. This fern thrives in moist, humus-rich soils and prefers full or partial shade, making it suitable for north, east, or west-facing aspects. It is hardy to UK zone H7 and can tolerate a range of soil types and pH levels, from chalk to clay and acid to alkaline. Polystichum lentum is ideal for cottage and informal gardens, flower borders, and underplanting roses and shrubs, with interest in spring and summer.

Polystichum lentum is a hardy evergreen fern with neat rosettes, ideal for shaded, low-maintenance borders and underplanting in cottage gardens.

Polystichum lentum

Polystichum lonchitis is a species of fern known by the common name northern hollyfern, or simply holly-fern. It is native to much of the Northern Hemisphere from Eurasia to Alaska to Greenland and south into mountainous central North America. It has stiff, glossy green, erect fronds and grows in moist, shady, rocky mountain habitats. In the garden it prefers full shade and partial shade and most soil types. In UK gardens it is fully hardy throughout the UK (RHS H7). Suggested uses include cottage and informal garden, low maintenance, flower borders and beds and underplanting of roses and shrubs. It tolerates soil of any pH, moist but well-drained conditions and north-facing, east-facing and west-facing aspects. Plant in moist, humus-rich soil in shade.

Polystichum lonchitis, commonly known as mountain holly fern, is part of the Dryopteridaceae family and features evergreen fronds that are intricately divided and arranged in neat rosettes. This species, also referred to as northern holly fern, is noted for its robust, short rhizomes that provide stability and vigor.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystichum_lonchitis

Polystichum lonchitis

Polystichum mohrioides is a tufted evergreen fern belonging to the genus Polystichum, known for its robust, short rhizomes and pinnately divided fronds arranged in orderly rosettes. This fern thrives in moist, humus-rich soil and is suitable for full or partial shade, making it ideal for north-, east-, or west-facing aspects. It is hardy to UK zone H7 and adapts well to various soil types and pH levels, including chalk, clay, loam, and sand. Polystichum mohrioides is well suited for cottage and informal gardens, flower borders, and underplanting of roses and shrubs, offering interest in spring and summer.

Polystichum mohrioides is an evergreen fern with pinnate fronds, thriving in shade and moist soil, ideal for low-maintenance borders and underplanting.

Polystichum mohrioides

Polystichum nepalense is a tufted evergreen fern cultivar within the Polystichum genus, known for its robust, short rhizomes and pinnately divided fronds arranged in orderly rosettes. It thrives in moist, humus-rich soil and prefers full or partial shade, making it suitable for north, east, or west-facing aspects. This hardy plant (H7) adapts well to various soil types and pH levels, from chalk to clay and acid to alkaline. Ideal for cottage and informal gardens, it is often used in flower borders, beds, and as underplanting for roses and shrubs, with interest in spring and summer.

Polystichum nepalense is an evergreen fern with pinnate fronds, thriving in shade and moist soil, ideal for low-maintenance cottage gardens and underplanting.

Polystichum nepalense

Polystichum polyblepharum, the Japanese lace fern or tassel fern, is a species of plant in the wood fern family Dryopteridaceae, native to Japan and South Korea. Growing to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall and broad, it forms clumps ("shuttlecocks") of evergreen fronds. It is grown in temperate regions as an ornamental subject, enjoying damp, well-drained soil in shade or dappled shade. It has been given the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. It grows to around 0.5-1 metres tall and 0.5-1 metres wide, carrying evergreen foliage. Grow it in full shade and partial shade and most soil types. It tolerates soil of any pH, well-drained conditions and north-facing and east-facing aspects.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystichum_polyblepharum

Polystichum polyblepharum

Polystichum set. 'Herrenhausen' is a cultivar of the fern genus Polystichum (family Dryopteridaceae). It follows the genus habit of producing a crown of fronds from a stout, slowly creeping rootstock. Polystichum species occur across the globe, with the greatest species richness in eastern Asia. Many members of the genus are terrestrial or grow on rock faces and are frequently recorded on stream banks, talus slopes and road cuts.

Polystichum set. 'Herrenhausen' is a Polystichum cultivar that forms a crown of fronds and suits planting on soil or rock in locations such as stream.

Polystichum set. 'Herrenhausen'

Polystichum set. 'Herrenhausen' | Polystichum fern

Polystichum setiferum 'Dahlem' is a cultivated form of the soft shield fern, notable for its soft-textured, arching fronds with softly bristled pinnule tips. Fronds typically measure 30–120 cm long and remain fresh-looking through the season, the plant being evergreen or semi-evergreen. Stipes and many midribs carry cinnamon-brown scales that are visible close to the crown.

Polystichum setiferum 'Dahlem' is a soft shield fern with 30–120 cm arching fronds and cinnamon-brown scaly stipes, suited to shaded, moist sites.

Polystichum setiferum 'Dahlem'

Soft Shield Fern (Polystichum setiferum 'Dahlem') | Shade

Polystichum vestitum is an evergreen, tufted fern cultivar within the Polystichum genus, known for its robust, short rhizomes and pinnately divided fronds arranged in orderly rosettes. It thrives in moist, humus-rich soils that are well-drained and can tolerate a range of soil types and pH levels. Suitable for full or partial shade, it is hardy to UK zone H7 and adapts well to both exposed and sheltered aspects, including north, east, and west-facing positions. This fern is ideal for cottage and informal gardens, flower borders, beds, and underplanting of roses and shrubs, offering seasonal interest in spring and summer.

Polystichum vestitum is an evergreen fern with pinnate fronds, thriving in shade and moist soils, ideal for low-maintenance borders and underplanting.