Dryopteris carthusiana
Narrow buckler fern, Spinulose wood fern, Spiny wood fern, Evergreen wood fern
Also known as Dryopteris spinulosa
- Height × spread
- 0.6m × 0.9m
- Position
- All conditions
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This attractive, rather delicate looking, fern is a native of Britain and Ireland and is found across Europe. It has lance shaped fronds held on slender, chocolate coloured, stems. The individual fronds are further divided into miniature fronds, neatly triangular. This double division is termed 'Bipinnate pinnatifid'. This variety is happy in very damp and boggy places. It reaches around 60cm (2ft) height with 90cm (3ft) spread when established.
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Stem colour
- Brown, Gold
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 0.6m
- Spread
- 0.9m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Rock garden
- Sun or shade
- All conditions
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Damp and wet soil
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Deer resistant
- Deer
- May be damaged by deer, especially when young
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Winter
Winter-Spring · Planting
Prune damaged fern fronds
You can remove old fronds in winter if they look tattered. Carefully cut them off using secateurs. Other fronds can be removed as they break, die or fail in spring. Cut them off carefully so as not to damage the young, emergent growth.
Found in
More Dryopteris
Dryopteris
Wood fern, Buckler fern
Dryopteris affinis
Gold shield fern, Scaly male fern, Golden scaled male fern
Dryopteris affinis
Gold shield fern, Scaly male fern, Golden scaled male fern
Dryopteris affinis 'Crispa Group'
Curled golden-scaled male fern, Wood fern, Buckler fern
Dryopteris affinis 'Cristata Angustata'
Gold shield fern, Scaly male fern, Golden scaled male fern, King of the male fern, Crested golden scaled male fern
Dryopteris affinis 'Cristata'
King of the male fern, Crested golden scaled male fern
Dryopteris affinis 'Pinderi'
Pinder's golden scaled male fern
Dryopteris affinis 'Polydactyla Dadds'
Gold shield fern, Scaly male fern, Golden scaled male fern