Rock Polypody
Polypodium virginianum
Also listed as Polypodium vinlandicum
Also known as Rockcap Fern, American Polypody, Virginia Rock Polypody
Climate Match for your location
See how well Rock Polypody grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
A low-growing evergreen fern native to eastern North America that thrives on rocky slopes and woodland areas. It forms dense mats of delicate fronds and requires minimal maintenance once established.
Why grow it
Rock polypody offers reliable year-round foliage in shaded, rocky sites where many other ferns struggle to establish. Compared to other low-growing northeastern ferns, it tolerates drier conditions and poor soils typical of rocky slopes and woodland edges, making it a practical choice for difficult microclimates with minimal supplemental water or amendment once rooted.
Watch out for
Newly planted specimens may take a season or two to achieve vigorous mat formation, requiring patience before the full ground-covering effect becomes apparent. In very wet or poorly drained locations, the plant may decline, so site selection toward naturally well-drained slopes will improve long-term performance.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Polypodiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing evergreen fern native to eastern North America that thrives on rocky slopes and woodland areas. It forms dense mats of delicate fronds and requires minimal maintenance once established.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Rock Polypody grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Rock polypody offers reliable year-round foliage in shaded, rocky sites where many other ferns struggle to establish. Compared to other low-growing northeastern ferns, it tolerates drier conditions and poor soils typical of rocky slopes and woodland edges, making it a practical choice for difficult microclimates with minimal supplemental water or amendment once rooted.
Watch out for
Newly planted specimens may take a season or two to achieve vigorous mat formation, requiring patience before the full ground-covering effect becomes apparent. In very wet or poorly drained locations, the plant may decline, so site selection toward naturally well-drained slopes will improve long-term performance.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Polypodiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.