Leathery polypody
Polypodium scouleri
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
8"–20" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Native to
CA, OR, WA
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaA leathery-fronded fern that forms tidy clumps on rocky bluffs and tree branches near the coast, often growing as an epiphyte. Thick, glossy fronds tolerate salt spray and periods of drought better than most ferns.
Wildlife value
As a non-flowering plant it offers no nectar, but its dense evergreen fronds provide shelter and moisture retention for small invertebrates.
Common questions
- How much sun does Leathery polypody need?
- Leathery polypody grows best in part shade conditions.
- When does Leathery polypody bloom?
- Leathery polypody blooms in July, August, September, and October.
- Where is Leathery polypody native?
- Leathery polypody (Polypodium scouleri) is native to CA, OR, WA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
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