Common polypody is an epiphytic, evergreen fern in the polypody family (Polypodiaceae). It is native to Europe, Asia and Africa. The species epithet is Latin for “common.” In a garden setting, its preference is for moist, well-drained sandy, humus-rich or loamy soils, in partial to full shade. As an epiphyte, it gets nutrition from the rain and falling debris. Like most epiphytes, it can tolerate periods of dryness. The fronds grow from a horizontal rhizome and can be found in old walls, cracks in rocks, the bases of trees, in rocky undergrowth and on tree limbs. The leathery green fronds can grow to 12 inches long and have large sori on the undersides giving the upper side a bumpy appearance. It is grown for the foliage and can be used under shrubs and trees, in the front border of a shade garden, as an evergreen ground cover, on slopes or in a rock garden. The common polypody provides year-round interest. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant diseases or pests. Watch for Florida Fern Caterpillar. VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington , Director of JC Raulston Arboretum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Bright green leathery triangular fronds are 4 to 20 inches with 10 to 18 pairs of leaflets that get smaller near the tip and are off set from each other. Margins are either entire or slightly dentate.
Flower detail
No flowers
Fruit color
Gold/Yellow; Gray/Silver; Orange
Fruit detail
No fruits but have large sori on the underside that are yellow to orange and turn dark gray when mature
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe, Asia and Africa
Food & Medicine
Edibility
Used to make nougat due to its sweet flavor
Uses (ethnobotany)
The root has been used in herbal medicine for many years
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Naturalized Area; Rock Wall; Slope/Bank; Woodland