Leucostegia immersa

Davallia Hypodematiaceae

. Leucostegia immersa is a handsome Asian fern with a rather good talent for making a shady corner look considerably more sophisticated. Native from the eastern Himalaya through southern China to Taiwan, it is found in moist woodland, forest margins and rocky, often mossy places, generally in climates where summer moisture is plentiful and the atmosphere is far from parched. This clone was originally collected at 1300 m asl in Mizoram, India The arching fronds arise from creeping rhizomes, forming a graceful, spreading colony rather than a botanical traffic jam.

In cultivation, give it humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil in partial to full shade, with shelter from drying winds. It appreciates consistent moisture during summer but should not be left standing in stagnant water. An annual mulch of leaf mould suits it perfectly and helps keep the rhizomes cool. Once established it is remarkably elegant for relatively little fuss—provided you remember that woodland elegance comes with a fairly strict moisture clause. A superb choice for naturalistic shade planting beneath trees and larger shrubs.

Hardiness: H5, approximately −15 to −10°C
Height: 60–90cm
Spread: 90–120cm