Woodwardia radicans aka Chain Fern

Woodwardia radicans is an evergreen fern known as European chain fern. Its native range covers Macaronesia and the Mediterranean region. Records include Italy, Sicily, Spain, Portugal, the Azores, and Algeria. It grows at woodland edges, often close to streams. This perennial suits sheltered gardens with mild winters. Its broad, leafy form gives shaded beds a strong outline.

Plants reach about 3.3–4.9 feet (1–1.5 metres) tall in gardens. Their spread reaches 4.9–8.2 feet (1.5–2.5 metres). The large fronds arch outward and remain green through winter. Each frond has an egg-shaped outline and bipinnate divisions. Fronds can grow to 4.9 feet (1.5 metres) long. Small bulbils form beneath the fronds near their tips. These provide one way to raise more plants. The RHS gives a maturity period of two to five years.

Grow this fern in partial shade with shelter from wind. North-facing and east-facing sites suit its needs. Give it neutral soil with moderate fertility. Clay or loam can work if moisture drains away well. Keep the soil damp rather than letting it dry out. In frost-prone places, shield plants from cold, drying winds. Add a dry mulch for winter protection. The RHS rates its hardiness as H3, for mild UK areas. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 8–11.

Use it in woodland gardens, shaded edges, or sheltered borders. Its size also suits courtyard gardens and wall-side beds. Plants For A Future lists ground cover among its uses. For that purpose, it suggests spacing plants 3.3 feet (1 metre) apart. Dried fronds and stems have also served as basket material. Remove old fronds once they start to break down. The RHS reports few usual pest or disease problems. Divide plants in spring, or remove bulbils in autumn. Spores can be sown in late summer or early autumn at 61°F (16°C).

Plants For A Future records no known edible uses. It reports no toxicity cases for this species. That absence does not establish that the plant is safe to eat. The same source records traditional medicinal uses for the roots. These include preparations for injury pain and use against worms. Such records describe past use, not proven safety or benefit.