Alpine Buckler Fern
(Dryopteris expansa)
Alpine Buckler Fern (Dryopteris expansa)
/
/
Nina Filippova
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Nina Filippova
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Nina Filippova | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Nina Filippova | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2020-05-23T12:14:12-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Dryopteris expansa, commonly known as alpine buckler fern or northern buckler-fern, is a deciduous fern native to cool temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, and Asia. It thrives in moist, shady environments such as mixed woodlands, evergreen forests, stream banks, and rock crevices. The fern typically grows from 4-24 inches in length with fronds that are bipinnate at the base, contributing to its delicate and intricate appearance.
Alpine buckler fern is appreciated for its lush greenery and ability to thrive in shady conditions, making it an excellent choice for woodland gardens, shaded borders, and as a ground cover under taller plants. It prefers consistently moist soil, but it is relatively low maintenance once established. While it reproduces by spores, it can also be propagated vegetatively by division of the rhizome, allowing for easy cultivation and spread in appropriate conditions. Gardeners should be aware that it may require protection from strong winds and excessive sun.CC BY-SA 4.0
Alpine buckler fern is appreciated for its lush greenery and ability to thrive in shady conditions, making it an excellent choice for woodland gardens, shaded borders, and as a ground cover under taller plants. It prefers consistently moist soil, but it is relatively low maintenance once established. While it reproduces by spores, it can also be propagated vegetatively by division of the rhizome, allowing for easy cultivation and spread in appropriate conditions. Gardeners should be aware that it may require protection from strong winds and excessive sun.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Fern
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Width: 1-2 feet
- Growth Rate: Slow, Moderate
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Non-Flowering
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous, Semi-deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Part Shade, Full Shade
- Water: Low, Medium
- Drainage: Medium
Common Uses
Border Plant, Deer Resistant, Low Maintenance, Water Garden
Natural Habitat
Cool temperate and subarctic mixed woodlands and evergreen forests, often near streams or in rock crevices
Other Names
Common Names: Spreading wood fern, Alaska fern, Northern Wood Fern, Spread Wood Fern
Scientific Names: , Dryopteris expansa, Dryopteris assimilis, Dryopteris austriaca subsp. assimilis, Dryopteris carthusiana subsp. assimilis, Dryopteris expansa subsp. assimilis, Dryopteris extremiorientalis, Dryopteris manshurica, Dryopteris minimisora, Dryopteris morrisonensis
GBIF Accepted Name: