About
Cystopteris dickieana, Dickie's bladder fern, is a delicate, pale-green, deciduous fern with feathery fronds composed of modest-sized, closely spaced, finely toothed leaflets, typically 10�45 cm tall. A rare native fern of damp, rocky gorges, occasionally grown in sheltered, shaded positions.
About the genus
Cystopteris, the bladder ferns, are rhizomatous, deciduous perennial ferns with delicate, pale-green, deeply divided fronds and rounded, inflated spore cases. Native to cool, shaded, rocky habitats, they are graceful and ornamental ferns for sheltered, shaded garden positions.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull shade, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, North-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH7
Plant details
Plant typeFerns, Herbaceous Perennial
HabitTufted
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesWildlife gardens
Native toNorthern Hemisphere
Care notes
CultivationGrow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in partial shade with shelter from cold, drying winds
PruningTidy spent leaves in autumn
PropagationPropagate by division or spring or from spores when ripe
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free