Polystichum setiferum 'Wollastonii'

Polystichum setiferum 'Wollastonii' – Wollaston's Soft Shield Fern

Polystichum setiferum 'Wollastonii', (Polystichum setiferum (Divisilobum Group) 'Divisilobum Wollaston',), is a beautiful, hardy evergreen fern admired for its exceptionally graceful, finely divided foliage. A cultivated form of the native Soft Shield Fern, it produces broad, triangular, lace-like green fronds with softly overlapping leaflets and attractive brown-scaled stems.

The elegant fronds arch outwards, forming a dense, spreading clump approximately 60–90 cm high and 60–90 cm wide, providing year-round texture and structure. Thriving in partial to full shade, this ornamental woodland fern prefers fertile soil, tolerating dry shade once established.

Ideal for woodland gardens, shaded borders, underplanting trees and naturalistic planting, its delicate foliage contrasts beautifully with hostas, hellebores and other shade-loving perennials.

A lovely variety discovered in Devon in 1852.