Genus
Polystichum
The Polystichum genus in the Plotwright catalog — 2 species: Christmas fern, Western sword fern. Open any for hardiness, native range, wildlife value, and growing guidance.
Polystichum acrostichoides
Christmas fern
A native evergreen fern of eastern North America that holds leathery dark green fronds through winter and provides ground-level songbird cover — ideal for shaded woodland slopes and erosion-prone banks.
Polystichum munitum
Western sword fern
A Pacific Northwest evergreen fern with dark-green leathery fronds reaching 3-5 feet long — among the most iconic Pacific Northwest understory plants. Long-lived (decades), shade-tolerant, and one of the most reliable evergreen ferns for cool moist climates.