Licorice Fern
Polypodium glycyrrhiza
Care
part shade
moderate
Evergreen
Friendly
Coastal redwood forests and moist temperate rainforests of northwestern California from Humboldt County to Monterey County, below 2000 ft elevation.
Care Guide
Planting
Plant your licorice fern in part shade to deep shade, where it will thrive in the Bay Area's cool, moist conditions. This evergreen fern prefers rich, mossy, well-draining soil similar to its natural habitat on tree trunks and logs - consider adding peat moss or bark to your potting mix if growing in a container. Plant in fall or winter when the Bay Area's wet season begins, giving the rhizome time to establish before summer. Space plants about 12 inches apart if using as a groundcover, or choose a container with good drainage if you're growing it indoors or on a patio.
After Planting
Water moderately and consistently, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged - the goal is to replicate the cool, humid conditions of its native Pacific Northwest range. You can reduce supplemental watering once the plant is established and winter rains arrive, though you may need to resume during dry summers. The main mistake Bay Area gardeners make is overwatering or planting in heavy clay soil; licorice fern wants moisture combined with excellent drainage, so amend your soil generously with organic matter. No pruning is needed for this low-maintenance evergreen fern - simply remove any dead fronds as needed.
Endangered & Threatened Species Supported
Species of Special Concern in California
Wildlife Supported
Amphibians
forages and shelters in moist humus beneath fern fronds in coastal redwood/mixed conifer understory
uses dense fern patches for shelter and microhabitat in wet forest understory
Insects
fungal pathogen completing life cycle on fern fronds throughout growing season
alternate host fungus utilizing fern tissue year-round in moist forest conditions
Birds
uses dense fern understory patches for cover and foraging for invertebrates in coastal scrub and oak woodlands
nesting in riparian areas where licorice fern provides understory cover near water Apr-Jun