SimplePlant

Dryopteridaceae

California swordfern

Polystichum californicum (D.C.Eaton) Diels

Family
Dryopteridaceae
Genus
Polystichum

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California swordfern: Botanical specimen in the Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Berkeley, California, USA.
Photo: Daderot, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons

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Common names

By language (1)
English
California swordfern, California sword fern

Synonyms

  • Aetopteron californicum House
  • Aspidium aculeatum var. californicum (D.C.Eaton) D.C.Eaton
  • Aspidium californicum D.C.Eaton
  • Dryopteris aculeata var. californica Underw.
  • Dryopteris californica Kuntze
  • Polystichum aculeatum var. californicum (D.C.Eaton) Jeps.

Characteristics

Growth habit
Forb/herb
Lifespan
Perennial
In the US and Canada
Canada: native, Lower 48 states: native

Photos

More in Polystichum

Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.