Polystichum lonchitis

Polystichum lonchitis
mountain holly fern

SIZE/TYPE	low perennial
USUAL HEIGHT	0.3-0.6m
USUAL WIDTH	0.4-0.8m
LEAVES	evergreen broadleaf
COLOUR OF LEAVES	green
LOCATION	semi-shade / partial sun
SOIL TYPE	neutral to alkaline
SOIL MOISTURE REQUIREMENTS	evenly moist but well-drained
USDA zone (lowest)	3 (down to -40°C)
WINTER PROTECTION
FOR ZONE 5+6
FOR ZONE 7
BELONGS TO CATEGORIES	Ferns Evergreen broadleaf

Mountain holly fern is an evergreen species native to elevated regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. It is easily distinguished from its close relatives (p. aculeatum, e. braunii) by pinnate (and not bi-pinnate) leaves composed of a central midrib and small, glossy, finely toothed leaflets of medium green to slightly chartreuse colour. The leaflets are oblong to acutely lance-shaped. Each frond is commonly 30-50 cm long, exceptionally 60-80 cm in extremely fertile soils, and only 5-7 cm wide. It is reliably evergreen.

Mountain holly fern naturally occupies rock outcrops, growing from crevices and cracks with enough moisture and where its roots remain cool. It dislikes drought and being exposed to direct sunlight. The best soil is limey to neutral, evenly moist but free-draining, moderately fertile. It is hardy to about -40 °C (USDA zone 3).

Last update: 13-12-2021

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GLOSSARY

STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.