Unpack bare roots or rhizomes on arrival and plant them within a week. Until then, keep them somewhere cool and ensure the roots remain slightly moist, never wet.
Out of season
Dryopteris
'Cristata'
scaly male fern
There’s nothing more lush and lovely than ferns for a shady spot, and with this evergreen Dryopteris 'Cristata', you don’t have to miss its gorgeous greenery in winter. You can enjoy the beautiful, soft, textured fronds all year round! You can of course cut them back in early spring if you wish to watch the new fronds uncurl, or simply leave it to its own devices and only remove leaves if any of them start to look untidy. Also known as the scaly male fern, Dryopteris affinis 'Cristata' is the ultimate low-maintenance gem to fill the quiet, shaded corners of the garden with colour and instil tranquility. Interestingly, the tips of its leaflets branch out into an intriguing crest. This fully hardy perennial provides fabulous leafy interest and good structure with its long, arching leaves, most of which stay evergreen, making this an excellent year-round choice. This European native woodland species has been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit for its superb qualities as a garden plant.
Tough, trouble-free and adaptable, you can grow Dryopteris 'Cristata' in deep shade, partial shade and even in sun if the ground stays relatively moist. Once it’s well established, it can tolerate those very tricky areas of dry shade too, making this one of the best plants for difficult situations. Dryopteris 'Cristata' is fully hardy, and rarely troubled by any pests or diseases, so it’s a superb low-maintenance option too. The fronds will often grow quite tall, up to 1.2 metres, and they relax slightly as the season goes on. Scaly male ferns look great combined with other ferns for a textures, leaft display, you can also pair them with other shade-tolerant plants like Thalictrum and Astilbe to add a bit of colour.
Quantity
Plant profile
Plant calendar
Remove the packaging straight away, check the compost and water thoroughly if dry. Check the plant’s hardiness before placing it outdoors. Plant into a border or permanent container within a month, choosing the position recommended for the variety. Keep the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil, firm gently and water well.
Soak the roots in water for three to six hours immediately before planting. Keep any crown, buds or emerging shoots above the water where possible.
Pot most bare roots into 15–20cm pots filled with peat-free multipurpose compost. Large or depth-sensitive roots, including peonies, are often best planted directly into borders.
Arrange the roots naturally without bending them. Cover the roots completely, positioning the crown and buds at the depth recommended for that particular perennial.
Keep pots in a sheltered outdoor position and water whenever the compost begins to dry. Grow on until roots hold the compost together when lifted from the pot.
Plant into a suitable border or permanent container once well rooted. Add a label and water regularly throughout the first growing season while the perennial establishes.
- Botanical name
- Dryopteris affinis 'Cristata'
- Established height
- 50-70cm
- Established spread
- 30-50cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
-
Upright
Clump-forming - Hardiness
- Fully hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green
- Mouse resistant
- No
- Plant size
- 1
- Plant spacing
- 5 plants per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- Yes
- Position
- Sheltered
- Rabbit resistant
- Yes
- Scented
- No
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
-
Damp
Free draining - Soil type
-
Loam
Clay
Loam-based compost
Sandy - Suitable for
-
Large containers
Borders
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens
Pots - Sunlight
-
Full shade
Partial shade
Dappled shade - Toxicity
- No report
- Years to establish
- 2-3 years
Pollinator-friendly
Great for shade
RHS Recommended
Perennial
Fully hardy
Packed peat-free
Low maintenance
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