Plants > Cacti & Succulents

scaly male fern

Dryopteris affinis

★ RHS AGMLow Maintenance

Genus: Dryopteris
Family: Dryopteridaceae
Common Names: golden shield fern

About this plant

D. affinis is a robust semi-evergreen fern forming a rosette of erect, bipinnatifid fronds to 1.2m in length, bright yellow-green when young, later rich green, with dense, persistent golden scales on the stems

Growing Information

Height

1-1.5 Metres

Spread

0.5-1 Metres

Hardiness

H5

Foliage

Semi Evergreen

Growing Conditions

Sunlight

Full ShadeFull SunPartial Shade

Soil

ClayChalkLoamSandy

pH

Not Currently Available

This plant is not currently stocked at any garden centres on our platform.

Acid

Alkaline

Neutral

Moisture

Poorly Drained

Aspect

West FacingNorth FacingEast FacingSouth Facing

Exposure

ShelteredExposed

Care Guide

Cultivation

Easy to grow in most cool, moist, lightly shaded sites and will grow in full sun if given plenty of moisture. Tolerant of dry shade but water regularly in their first season and mulch well

Pruning

Dead or damaged fronds may be removed as necessary

Propagation

Propagate by sowing spores as soon as ripe or by division in spring

Pests

Generally pest free outdoors

Diseases

Generally disease free outdoors

Garden Uses

Uses

Wildflower MeadowGround Cover

Planting Places

OutdoorSubmerged Aquatic

Season of Interest

SpringSummerAutumnWinter

Size & Characteristics

Height

1-1.5 Metres

Spread

0.5-1 Metres

Habit

Floating

Time to Full Height

Ten To Twenty Years