About
A dwarf or compact fern with evergreen to semi-evergreen, congested, leathery, glossy upright fronds, often with slightly curved or hooked tips.
About the genus
Dryopteris can be deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen ferns, with stout, erect or decumbent rhizomes and shuttlecock-like rosettes of lance-shaped to ovate, pinnately divided fronds
Growing conditions
SunlightFull shade, Partial shade
Soil typeLoam, Clay
Soil pHNeutral, Acid, Alkaline
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, West-facing, North-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeFerns, Herbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming
FoliageSemi evergreen, Evergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden
Care notes
CultivationBest grown in moist but free-draining soil in partial shade. See how to grow ferns for further advice
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by division
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free