Dryopteris f.m Crispa Cristata

Description

Dryopteris filix-mas ‘Crispa Cristata’ – crested male fern

Botanical name: Dryopteris filix-mas ‘Crispa Cristata’
Common names: Crested male fern
Family: Dryopteridaceae
Plant type: Deciduous fern
Habit: Clump-forming, upright
Pot size: 3 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 45–60cm tall × 45cm spread
Foliage: Arching fronds that are both crisped and crested, with frilled, tasselled tips; deciduous
Flowers: None — ferns reproduce by spores, not flowers
Scent: Not scented
Aspect / light: Partial to full shade
Soil: Moist but well-drained, humus-rich; tolerates a range of soils; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H6 (hardy, to about −20°C); USDA zones 4–8
Exposure: Sheltered
Native range: Selected form; the species is native to Europe including the UK
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic to people and pets

Dryopteris filix-mas ‘Crispa Cristata’ is a decorative male fern with arching fronds that are both crisped and crested, ending in frilled, tasselled tips. Elegant and easy for shady and woodland borders.

GardenAdvice notes

A charming crested form of the native male fern, ‘Crispa Cristata’ has fronds that are both crisped along their length and finished with frilled, tasselled crests at the tips, giving a soft, ornate look. Tough, easy and tolerant of drier shade like its parent, it brings extra texture and character to a shady border.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring or autumn in moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil in partial to full shade, with shelter from cold, drying winds. Male ferns and their relatives are among the most tolerant of drier shade, but all do best with reliable moisture. Work in leaf mould or compost, and space about 45–60cm apart depending on the ultimate size.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance. Keep the soil from drying out, especially while establishing, and mulch with leaf mould in autumn. Remove old, tatty or frost-damaged fronds in early spring before the new growth unfurls. No feeding is usually needed beyond an annual mulch.

Propagation

• Division: Lift and divide congested clumps in spring.
• Spores: Can be raised from spores sown on moist, sterile compost, though this is slow and specialised.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free and robust. Slugs and snails may graze the soft young fronds as they unfurl in spring, and fronds can scorch in dry or exposed positions.

Uses in the garden

Ideal for shady and woodland borders, north-facing beds, and among hostas, hellebores and other shade plants, where the frilled, crested fronds add ornate texture.

Wildlife value

The fronds provide cover and shelter for small invertebrates, and the crowns offer shelter through winter.

Toxicity & safety

Ferns are generally regarded as non-toxic to people and pets, though as with all ornamental plants they are not intended for eating.

GardenAdvice tip

This is one of those Victorian-favourite crested ferns, grown for the frilled and tasselled frond tips that give it a soft, ornate look — lovely at the front of a shady border where the detail shows. It has all the toughness of the common male fern, tolerating drier shade than most, so it’s as easy as it is decorative.

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