About

Athyrium filix-femina 'Dre's Dagger' is a compact, clump-forming fern that features upright to arching fronds with a distinctive crested appearance. The mid-green fronds are adorned with slender, pinnate leaflets arranged in a criss-cross pattern. This deciduous variety adds texture to shaded garden spaces.

About the genus

Athyrium comprises deciduous ferns characterized by their upright or spreading rhizomes, which support typically pinnate to tripinnate fronds that are often thin in texture. These ferns are particularly well-suited for shaded environments.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Partial shade
Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Neutral, Acid
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H6

Plant details

Plant type
Ferns
Habit
Clump forming
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
0.1-0.5 metres
Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height
5-10 years
Suggested uses
Cottage and informal garden

Care notes

Cultivation
Grows well in most moist but free draining soil in shade or partial shade. See how to grow ferns for further advice
Pruning
No pruning required but can remove older fading leaves if necessary
Propagation
Propagate by division. May not come true from spores
Pest resistance
Generally pest-free
Disease resistance
Generally disease-free