Taxonomy

Division:

Pteridophyta | - Ferns

Family:

Polypodiaceae

Genus:

Polypodium

Species:

Polypodium appalachianum

USDA Symbol:

POAP

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

30 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Ground Cover:

Yes

Garden & Ecology Notes

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rocky, well-drained, acidic soil

pH:

5.0 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

commonly found in shaded, rocky outcrops

Propagation & Germination

Notes:

Fern reproduces via spores; spore germination requires moist, shaded conditions and can take several months to produce gametophytes.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI