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Key characteristics

Family: Dryopteridaceae
Height: 1.5 to 3 feet
Width: 2 to 4 feet
Flower color: Non-flowering
Foliage color: Glossy dark green, evergreen
Bloom time: Non-flowering
Light: Partial shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low; remove old fronds as needed; can propagate via bulbils that form at frond tips
Growing zone: USDA zones 6 to 8
Wildlife: Deer-resistant; not specifically known to attract wildlife

Perennials

Polystichum x dycei

Dyce's Holly Fern

Polystichum × dycei is an evergreen fern celebrated for its robust, arching fronds. The glossy, dark green fronds are bipinnate and lance-shaped, contributing to a lush, symmetrical appearance in shaded garden areas. Unlike flowering plants, ferns do not have a blooming season; instead, their ornamental value lies in their foliage, which remains vibrant throughout the year.

Named in honor of British fern enthusiast James Wood Dyce, it has become a favored choice for woodland gardens and shaded borders, offering year-round interest and texture.

Light

Partial shade to full shade

Water

Medium

Bloom time

Non-flowering

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Shade Gardens
Woodland Gardens
Cut Flower Gardens

Companion plants

Foamflowers · Epimediums · Hostas · Bleeding hearts · Solomon's seal · Lungworts

Design tip

Use it as a steady framework plant, repeating it along a bed to tie separate plantings together. Keep it out of hot afternoon sun and layer it with woodland companions for a full, settled look.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)