About
Dryopteris carthusiana, the narrow buckler fern, is a semi-evergreen shield fern forming compact, upright shuttlecocks of highly dissected, finely toothed, lacy, mid-green fronds on pale, scaly stalks. An elegant and reliable fern for a shaded, moist border, bog garden or woodland.
About the genus
Dryopteris, the shield ferns, are deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen ferns forming shuttlecock-like rosettes of lance-shaped to broadly triangular, pinnately divided fronds on stout rhizomes. They range from compact rock garden species to large, architectural woodland ferns and are among the most useful and adaptable of all garden ferns.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull shade, Partial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam, Chalk
Soil pHNeutral, Acid, Alkaline
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectWest-facing, East-facing, North-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeFerns
HabitClump forming
FoliageSemi evergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden
Native toN Temperate
Care notes
CultivationBest grown in moist but free draining soil in a sheltered shaded or semi shaded location. For more information see our advice page how to grow ferns.
PruningRemove any dead or damaged fronds in late autumn or early spring before new growth emerges.
PropagationPropagate by division or spores
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free