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Davallia mariesii AGM

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Characteristics

Plant type

Fern

Habit

Mat forming

Resilience

Hardiness

H2 (tender - cool or frost-free greenhouse)

Colour

Foliage

Green in Autumn, Spring and Summer

Size

Ultimate height

0.1-0.5 metres

Ultimate spread

0.5-1 metres

Time to ultimate height

5-10 years

Preferred common name

squirrel's foot fern

Family

Davalliaceae

Davallia can be evergreen or deciduous ferns with finely divided ovate or triangular fronds arising singly from a creeping, conspicuously scaly rhizome

D. mariesii is a deciduous fern with creeping rhizomes covered with brown scales; fronds to 25cm, triangular-ovate, finely dissected

Other common names

ball fern
Japan hare's foot fern

Suppliers

Suppliers listed in RHS Plant Finder

Awards

Award of Garden Merit

How to grow

Sunlight

Part shade

Aspect

North-facing, West-facing or East-facing

Sheltered

Cultivation

Grow in moist, open leafy soil in partial shade; hardy to -7°C (19°F) if protected in winter. Under glass grow in equal parts coarse leaf mould or peat substitute and moss, bark, sharp sand, charcoal and pine needles

Soil

Moist but well-drained

Neutral or Acid

Loam

Propagation

Divide rhizomes in spring, ensuring each division has roots

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City/Courtyard Gardens, Cottage/Informal Garden, Flower borders and beds, Ground Cover, Patio/Container Plants, Rock Garden or Underplanting of Roses and Shrubs

How to care

Pruning

No pruning required but tidy any winter damaged fronds in early spring

Pests

Generally trouble free

Diseases