1 / 6Key characteristics
- Family
- Dryopteridaceae
- Height
- 1 to 2 feet
- Width
- 1 to 2 feet
- Flower color
- None
- Foliage color
- Dark green and glossy
- Bloom time
- None
- Light
- Partial to full shade
- Water
- Regular
- Maintenance
- Low
- Growing zone
- USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8
- Wildlife
- Provide habitat and cover for small creatures
Perennials
Polystichum polyblepharum
Japanese Tassel Fern
Polystichum polyblepharum, commonly known as Japanese Tassel Fern, is an evergreen fern native to East Asia, characterized by its finely cut, dark green, glossy fronds that form a dense, rounded clump. Thriving in cool, moist, shaded woodlands, it maintains its greenery year-round, making it popular for its ornamental value. Adaptable and hardy, this low-maintenance fern is ideal for shaded gardens, borders, or as ground cover, adding versatility and visual appeal to landscaping.
Works well in
- Borders
- Shade Gardens
- Woodland Gardens
- Rain Gardens
- Containers
Companion plants
Epimediums · Hostas · Bleeding hearts · Solomon's seal · Lungworts · Wild ginger
Design tip
Foliage and form do most of the work here, so lean on texture and repetition rather than one flowering moment. Cooler light suits it, so tuck it on the north side of a shrub or wall where the soil stays even.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen in the perennial border at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
More perennials
Dryopteris championii
Champion's Wood Fern
Blooms non-flowering fern
Partial shade to full shade
Dendranthema 'Warm Igloo'
Warm Igloo Hardy Mum
Blooms dark bronze, fading to warm orange at the edges
Full sun
Helleborus x ballardiae HGC 'Mahogany Snow'
Mahogany Snow Lenten Rose
Blooms creamy white with pink hues
Partial to full shade
Papaver orientale ‘Orange Scarlet’
Orange Scarlet Oriental Poppy
Blooms orange-red
Full sun