Polypodium appalachianum: Country Or Region Of Origin
Eastern Canada and U.S.A.
Plant Profile: Polypodium appalachianum
Taxonomy: Polypodium appalachianumNames
Appalachian Rockcap Fern
Phonetic Spelling:pol-ee-PODE-ee-um ap-uh-lach-ee-AH-num
Genus:Polypodium
Species:appalachianum
Family:Polypodiaceae
The Appalachian Rockcap Fern is a native evergreen species that forms dense mats and thrives in the moist, rocky environments and ravines of eastern Canada and the United States. It can be found at both high and low altitudes. This fern is particularly sensitive to heat. While it bears a resemblance to Polypodium virginianum, a distinguishing feature is that its leaf blade is broadest at the base.
Polypodium appalachianum Feature Summary
Polypodium appalachianum Image Gallery
Tags
#fern
#NC native
#deer resistant
#native fern
#food source herbage
#bird friendly
#mammals
#audubon
Similar Plants
Polypodium appalachianum Feature Summary
Attributes
Eastern Canada and U.S.A.
Heavy shade, Deer
Perennial
Fruit
No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
Flowers
No flowers.
Whole Plant Traits
Native Plant
Fern
Cultural Conditions
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Shallow Rocky
Leaves
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Lanceolate
Pinnatifid
Entire
Crenate
Stem
Landscape
Native Garden
Shade Garden
Deer
Heavy Shade
Songbirds
Small Mammals
Polypodium appalachianum Image Gallery
Polypodium appalachianum Attributes
Polypodium appalachianum: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Heavy shade, Deer
Polypodium appalachianum: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Polypodium appalachianum Fruit
Polypodium appalachianum: Fruit Description
No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
Polypodium appalachianum Flowers
Polypodium appalachianum: Flower Description
No flowers.
Polypodium appalachianum Whole Plant Traits
Polypodium appalachianum: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Polypodium appalachianum Cultural Conditions
Polypodium appalachianum: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Polypodium appalachianum: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Polypodium appalachianum: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Polypodium appalachianum: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Polypodium appalachianum: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Polypodium appalachianum Leaves
Polypodium appalachianum: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Polypodium appalachianum: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Polypodium appalachianum: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Polypodium appalachianum: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Polypodium appalachianum Stem
Polypodium appalachianum: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Polypodium appalachianum Landscape
Polypodium appalachianum: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Polypodium appalachianum: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Polypodium appalachianum: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
