Common Polypody
Polypodium vulgare
Common Polypody is a perennial for edging, groundcover, suited to full sun to partial shade and loam, sandy soil or acid soil, flowering varies by climate.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 30 cm |
| Spread | 45 cm |
| Aspect | full sun to partial shade |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Hardiness | USDA 6a-8b, RHS H7 |
| Pollinator-friendly | No |
| Pet-safe | Yes |
Where to use it in a border
At around 30 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 45 cm of room to spread, roughly 2 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 6a to 8b and rated H7 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of shade, sandy soil, acid soil, evergreen plants, pet-safe plants.
Border Builder uses Common Polypody's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- Evergreen, so it keeps the border furnished through winter.
- It tolerates acid soil but dislikes shallow chalk.
- It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Black Cohoshfor height behind it
- Cinnamon Fernfor height behind it
- Dutchman's Breechesto edge in front
- Dwarf Fothergillafor height behind it
- Evergreen Huckleberryfor height behind it
- Florida Anisefor height behind it