Broad Buckler Fern Lepidota Cristata

A beautiful, adaptable plant for a partially shady garden, Dryopteris dilatata Lepidota Cristata is a large, rhizomatous, rosette-forming, semi-evergreen fern with an upright, shuttlecock-like habit. The deep green, triangular to lance-shaped fronds are finely divided with crested tips, giving a lovely, light, lacy effect. The stems and mid-ribs of the fronds have warm brown scales. Broad buckler fern Lepidota Cristata will tolerate full sun in reliably moist soil, and will tolerate dry shade if watered well in its first year. Remove tired fronds in spring to make room for the unfurling new fronds. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any moist but well-drained soil
Position: Partial shade
Season of interest: All year
Hardiness: Very hardy
Height: 3’ (90cm); Spread: 18” (45cm)