Polystichum setiferum Dahlem - Soft Shield Fern

Polystichum setiferum Dahlem, also known as Soft Shield Fern, is an evergreen fern with a particularly upright habit and increased hardiness. It forms an erect clump composed of long, feathery fronds that have a beautiful light green colour, which darkens slightly as the season progresses. In spring, its young shoots unfurl and glisten under silvery scales. This is a robust variety that is impressive and easy to grow in most regions. It should be planted in a shady position, in ordinary, loose, and well-drained soil.

Polystichum setiferum, formerly known as Polystichum angulare, is a botanical species native to Great Britain and Western Europe, especially southern regions, as well as temperate Asia and North Africa. Its natural habitat consists of woods and shaded ravines at low altitudes. It is a perennial plant of the Dryopteridaceae family, originating from over 300 cultivars that are more or less distinct, including the 'Dahlem' variety, discovered at the Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden.

Polystichum setiferum Dahlem forms a clump that reaches a height of 80 cm (32 in) and distinguishes itself from the type species by its larger size, which can reach 1.2 m (4 ft). It is also more cold-resistant and maintains an attractive appearance during winter. This variety also has the ability to produce bulblets (miniature ferns) along the rachis of each frond – baby ferns that emerge from the axil of each pinna. The fronds have an expanded lamina in the centre, deeply cut into 30 to 40 pairs of toothed pinnules, covered in bristles. The petiole of each frond is scaly and brown. The lanceolate-shaped lamina has a somewhat soft texture and a vibrant acid-green colour, which turns to medium green. Each frond persists until spring, then dries up as the spectacular young shoots appear, in the form of brown croziers with shimmering scales.

The Polystichum genus comprises a wide variety of particularly decorative species and cultivars throughout the year. The Dahlem Soft Shield Fern is a particularly hardy species (down to around -25 °C (-13 °F)) that adapts to many cool and shaded situations, in well-drained soil as it dislikes stagnant moisture. This variety can be grown in most regions, carefully choosing its location, as this large and lush plant deserves to be highlighted. Its large, bright fronds emerging from the shade invite touch, along a shaded path. In undergrowth areas, it can be paired with simple and undemanding plants such as butcher's broom, hollies, Mahonias, or cotoneasters. It also pairs well with bamboos, shrubby fuchsias, nandinas, and hostas (the "Empress Wu" Hosta, being giant, has a great impact). Ferns are magnificent at the edge of water features or in large shaded rockeries. It can also be grown in a very large pot filled with fertile compost.