Carried by 7 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
California Polypody (Polypodium californicum) is a native fern that grows in northern, southern and central California, primarily along the coast, foothills and coastal mountains. It tends to grow in canyons, streambanks and north facing slopes, at elevations from sea level to 4,000 feet. It spreads slowly by rhizome. In areas that are wet year round it may stay evergreen; in areas of summer dryness it will become deciduous. It is one of the more popular native ferns for shade gardens.
Fern
2 ft Tall
3 ft Wide
Slow
Evergreen, Summer Semi-deciduous
Containers, Deer resistant, Groundcover
Deep Shade, Partial Shade
Very Low
Max 1x / week once established
Moderate
Tolerates cold to 15° F
Slow
Tolerates a wide variety of soils as long as adequate moisture is present.
Tolerates serpentine soil..
Soil PH: 5.7 - 7.5
6, 7*, 14, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24*
canyons, streambanks, north facing slopes
Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, Foothill Woodland, Mixed Evergreen Forest
Use in a damp, shaded area with other shade-loving plants such as other ferns, Wild Ginger (Asarum spp.), Bush Anemone (Carpenteria californica), Western Dichondra (Dichondra occidentalis), Dogwood (Cornus spp.), Wild Strawberry (Fragraria spp.), Alumroot (Heuchera spp.), Ocean Spray (Holodiscus discolor), Currant/Gooseberry (Ribes spp.), Meadow Rue (Thalictrum spp.), Bee Plant (Scrophularia californica), and Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea)