Woodwardia unigemmata

Woodwardia unigemmata (02/02/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Partial to full shade

Flowering period: N/A

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 1.2m

Eventual Spread: 1.2m

Hardiness: 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11, 12

Family: Blechnaceae

Woodwardia unigemmata is an evergreen fern with an arching habit. Its dark green waxy leaves are bipinnate fronds, up to 1m long, 60cm broad. and produce ‘bulbs’ at their tips leaves. Its new fronds appear bronze/ red in spring. Its roots are rhizomes.

Woodwardia unigemmata, commonly known as Jeweled Chain Fern, is native to south China to east Asia. In its native habitat it grows as a forest understory plant.

The etymological root of the binomial name Woodwardia is named for Thomas Jenkinson Woodward (1745–1820), a British botanist. Unigemmata is derived from the Latin uni meaning ‘one’ and gemmatus meaning ‘jeweled’, in reference to the ‘bulb’ appearing at the end of its fronds.

The landscape architect may find Woodwardia unigemmata useful as part of an understory woodland planting scheme or other shady locations.

Woodwardia unigemmata Leaf (02/02/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Woodwardia unigemmata is of little wildlife value in the UK.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Woodwardia unigemmata their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 2012.

Woodwardia unigemmata prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It prefers a neutral to acid pH of soil. It dislikes dry soils.

Woodwardia unigemmata requires little maintenance.

Blechnum chilense

Blechnum chilense (09/02/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Partial to full shade

Flowering period: Late spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 1m

Eventual Spread: 1m

Hardiness: 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Family: Blechnaceae

Blechnum chilense is an evergreen fern. Its dark green waxy leaves are simply divided pinnate fronds, up to 1m long and 30cm broad. New frond often appear with an orange/ pink colour. Its fertile frond are more erect than the leaf fronds and have narrow linear pinnae. Its roots are rhizomes which aids its spread.

Blechnum chilense, commonly known as Seesucker Fern, Chilean Hard Fern or Costilla de Vaca, is native to Chile and Argentina.

The etymological root of the binomial name Blechnum is from the Greek blhxnon meaning ‘fern’. Chilense is derived from the Latin meaning ‘from Chile’.

The landscape architect may find Blechnum chilense useful as an evergreen ground cover plant for shady locations.

Blechnum chilense Leaf (09/02/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Blechnum chilense is of little value to UK wildlife.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Blechnum chilense their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1997.

Blechnum chilense prefers moist, well-drained soils. It prefers an acid to neutral pH of soil.

Blechnum chilense requires little maintenance. Large clumps may be divided in spring.