Crested Male Fern

A compact form of the native Irish male fern, Dryopteris filix-mas has crested tips to the fronds and their individual ‘leaflets’, giving a ruffled appearance. The fronds emerge as light green ‘croziers’ in spring, maturing to mid-green in summer. Crested male fern is a semi-evergreen, clump-forming fern which is extremely hardy and adaptable as to soil, aspect and conditions; it will even grow in dry shade once established, so is useful as an underplanting for trees, or in rockeries. Will grow in full sun if the soil is reliably moist. Holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Site: Tolerates exposure
Soils: Almost any soil, as long as not waterlogged
Position: Partial shade, full shade; full sun in moist soil
Season of interest: Spring, summer, autumn
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height to 18”-2’ (45-60cm) Spread to 20” (50cm)