Gardening information sheet for plant.

1. *Licorice fern – Polypodium glycyrrhiza (poly-PO-dee-um GLISS-er-EYE-zuh)
Family: Polypodaceae (Polypody Fern Family)
Native to: Coastal North America from AK to about the San Francisco Bay; mostly coastal, on tree
trunks, mossy logs & rocks, moist banks in Redwood, Mixed Evergreen or Yellow Pine Forest.
Growth characteristics: spreading perennial fern mature height: < 1 ft. mature width: 1-3 ft.
Small, rather simple fern that sends up fronds (leaves) from stout rhizome (which may be exposed
above ground or if growing on log). Leaves drought-deciduous, emerging again with rains.
Rhizomes have an intense, sweet licorice scent and flavor.
Blooms/fruits: No blooms (it’s a fern). Sporulates late fall to winter.
Uses in the garden: Often used in natural gardens in its native range. Nice addition to a fern
garden or fern grotto; its small size and spreading form makes a nice cover fern (can even grow
vertically). Interesting accent plant in a pot on a shady porch or around a cool, shady fountain.
Rhizome was traditionally chewed or used as flavoring; makes a nice tea. Traditionally also used as
treatment for colds, cough, sore throat and chest congestion (rhizome chewed & juice swallowed).
Sensible substitute for: Non-native ferns.
Attracts: Provides some cover for small creatures like tree frogs.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Part-shade to quite shady.
Soil High in organics; acidic soils
Water Needs moist soil – Water Zone 2-3 to 3 to stay green; mist plants daily to weekly in
hot dry times. Let plants die back in late summer-fall.
Fertilizer ½ strength fertilizer 2x/month during growing season, especially in containers.
Other Leaf mulch or moss growing as mulch.
Management: The big trick in S. CA is keeping plants sufficiently watered.
Propagation: from spores: requires moist conditions by cuttings: easy
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 13, many on-line sources 3/27/18
* California native, but not native to Western Los Angeles County © Project SOUND