Polypodium cambricum 'Pulcherrimum Addison'

Perennial fern of the Polypodiaceae family, this selected cultivar is derived from Polypodium cambricum, a species native to Western Europe and the Mediterranean, where it naturally grows on limestone rocks, old walls, shaded embankments, and dry undergrowth, often in well-drained rocky situations.

The 'Pulcherrimum Addison' cultivar forms a spreading clump about 30 cm in height. The fronds, bright yellow-green at emergence then medium green at maturity, are deeply cut, with pinnules themselves very lobed and with curly margins, creating a texture of great complexity. This degree of blade division is characteristic of the pulcherrimum group, and the 'Addison' selection represents one of the most elaborate forms recorded by the British Pteridological Society.

The sori, clearly visible on the underside of the fertile fronds, are round, initially bright yellow then orange to reddish-brown at maturity, and themselves constitute a notable winter decorative element.

Polypodium cambricum presents a foliar cycle offset compared to most cultivated ferns: the fronds develop in autumn and persist throughout the winter. In dry conditions, the plant may enter summer dormancy and lose its foliage, but it retains it if soil moisture is maintained.

In cultivation, it requires well-drained soil, preferably limestone, in shade or partial shade. It is perfectly suited to shaded rock gardens, crevices in walls, or woodland gardens on limestone substrate.