Rock Cap Fern

🌿 Rock Cap Fern (Polypodium virginianum) 🌿
A true gem of the forest floor, Rock Cap Polypody is a small, evergreen fern that clings gracefully to rocky outcrops, woodland soils, and mossy logs. Its leathery fronds remain green through the winter, offering a rare splash of life when much else is dormant. With its delicate arching leaves and resilience,
 
Polypodium virginianum brings quiet beauty and timeless character to shaded landscapes.
This fern is native to rocky woodlands across Ontario and thrives in cool, moist, shaded sites. It is especially at home on limestone, granite, or shaded ledges, where its creeping rhizomes anchor into moss and leaf litter. Once established, it spreads slowly to form charming colonies that look as though they’ve been part of the forest for centuries.
 
Grown at the Origin Native Plants northern research and propagation facility on the banks of the Severn River. Years in the making, these ferns have been cultivated in unique conditions that echo their natural woodland homes, ensuring strong and resilient stock for your garden or restoration project.
 
Planting Companions & Associations:
Trees: Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)
Shrubs: Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), Mapleleaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium)
Herbaceous Plants: Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense), Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Groundcovers & Mosses: Red-Stemmed Feather Moss (Pleurozium schreberi), Haircap Moss (Polytrichum spp.), Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens)
 
 
Rock Cap Polypody is more than just a fern — it’s a living thread of woodland heritage. Whether in a shaded garden, tucked into a rock wall, or used in restoration, this fern brings the timeless grace of the northern forest into your landscape.