FoliageWestern Sword Fern
Polystichum munitum
Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum) is a medium-growing perennial, hardy in USDA zones 5-9, that matures to about 2-4 ft x 3-5 ft. It does best in part shade and full shade with medium water needs in well-drained and moist soil. It stands up well to deer and shade, grows happily in containers.
- USDA zones
- 5-9
- Sun
- Part shade, Full shade
- Water
- Medium
- Mature size
- 2-4 ft x 3-5 ft
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist
- Foliage
- Green
- Tough against
- Deer, Shade
- Native to
- Pacific Northwest and Western North America
In the landscape
Data sources
Freeze survival
Will it survive your winters?
Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Western Sword Fern is hardy to about -20°F (estimated from USDA zone 5), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
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