{"title":"Hardy Ferns","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"polystichum-lepidocaulon","title":"Polystichum lepidocaulon","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePolystichum lepidocaulon\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Japanese tassel fern, is one of the most quietly architectural ferns you can grow outdoors in Britain. Native to the woodlands of Japan, Korea and China, it forms a neat clump of arching, leathery fronds in a deep, glossy green that holds firm right through the colder months. As an \u003cstrong\u003eevergreen fern\u003c\/strong\u003e it brings structure and texture to the garden in the dead of winter, when most perennials have long since retreated underground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat sets this \u003cstrong\u003epolystichum\u003c\/strong\u003e apart is its charming party trick. The slender frond tips extend, arch over and root where they meet the soil, slowly producing new plantlets and giving rise to its other common name, the walking fern. Over the years a single plant gently colonises its corner without ever becoming a nuisance, the lance-shaped, tassel-like fronds overlapping into a soft, layered mound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow it\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike most woodland ferns, it is happiest in partial or full shade with shelter from harsh, drying winds. A north or east-facing border, a shady town garden or the dappled ground beneath trees and shrubs all suit it well. Give it a moist but well-drained soil enriched with leaf mould or garden compost; it is unfussy about soil type but resents both waterlogging and parched, baking conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e partial to full shade, sheltered\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e moist but well-drained, humus-rich\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEventual size:\u003c\/strong\u003e roughly 40-60cm tall and wide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e evergreen, dark glossy green all year\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a genuinely \u003cstrong\u003ehardy fern\u003c\/strong\u003e, it shrugs off frost down to around -10C, so it earns its place in our Hardy Exotics range. In the very coldest gardens, a sheltered spot and a loose winter mulch over the crown offer extra reassurance. Care is refreshingly simple: keep it watered through dry spells and snip away any tired or weather-damaged fronds in early spring to make way for the fresh croziers unfurling beneath. It also makes an excellent container subject for a shady patio.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003ePolystichum lepidocaulon\u003c\/strong\u003e we send out is a strong, well-rooted plant, hand-checked and carefully packed to arrive in the best possible condition, ready to settle straight into your garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GrowTropicals","offers":[{"title":"9cm","offer_id":43572957708332,"sku":"POLYSCHLEPIDO9","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/polyschistum-1.jpg?v=1719588809"},{"product_id":"cyrtomium-fortunei-clivicola","title":"Cyrtomium fortunei 'clivicola'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCyrtomium fortunei\u003c\/strong\u003e 'Clivicola', the Japanese holly fern, is one of the most architecturally striking hardy ferns you can grow. Each arching frond is lined with glossy, leathery pinnae that genuinely resemble holly leaves, giving the plant a bold, almost tropical presence while remaining tough enough to shrug off a British winter. It is exactly the kind of hardy exotic that brings year-round structure and a touch of the unexpected to shady corners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike many ferns that vanish in autumn, the holly fern is \u003cstrong\u003eevergreen\u003c\/strong\u003e, holding its deep green fronds right through the coldest months. 'Clivicola' is a particularly neat, clump-forming form, slowly building into a tidy rosette around 45-60cm tall and wide. Its dense, glossy foliage catches the light beautifully and contrasts wonderfully with softer ferns, hostas, hardy gingers and other shade-loving foliage plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a true woodland plant, happiest in partial to full shade with shelter from drying winds and harsh midday sun. Give it a moist but well-drained soil enriched with leaf mould or garden compost; it is wonderfully unfussy about pH and will grow happily in chalk, clay, loam or sand. A north or east-facing border, a shaded courtyard, or the base of a wall are all ideal homes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Partial to full shade, sheltered\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moist but well-drained, humus-rich\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reliably hardy across most of the UK\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEventual size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Around 45-60cm in 2-5 years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCyrtomium fortunei is refreshingly low-maintenance. Keep it watered through its first season and during dry spells, mulch the crown each autumn, and simply snip away any worn fronds in early spring as the fresh fiddleheads unfurl. Its compact habit also makes it a superb container fern for a shady patio or doorway.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you are searching for a dependable holly fern for a difficult shady spot or a handsome evergreen centrepiece, this Japanese holly fern delivers on both looks and resilience. Every plant we send out is nursery-grown, well-established and carefully selected, ready to settle straight into your garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"8.5cm","offer_id":57684105560447,"sku":"CYRTOFORT85","price":4.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/cyrto_85d20af7-9793-4688-ba41-12db8455b316.jpg?v=1780670820"}],"url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/collections\/hardy-ferns.oembed","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}