Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas)

Male Fern

(Dryopteris filix-mas)

MurielBendel

CC BY-SA 4.0

Image By: MurielBendel

Recorded By:

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Estimated Native Range

Summary

Dryopteris filix-mas, commonly known as Male Fern, is a semi-evergreen fern native to a variety of habitats including deciduous forests, damp shaded areas, and often found under the canopy of trees in Europe, Asia, and North America. It typically grows to a maximum length of 150 cm (59 in) with an upright habit, forming a single crown per rootstock. The fronds are broadly lance-shaped and deeply divided, contributing to a lush, green appearance throughout the growing season and into winter in milder climates.

Male Fern is valued for its hardiness and adaptability, making it a popular choice for shaded garden areas, woodland plantings, and as a naturalizing species. It provides texture and greenery to shaded gardens and is relatively low maintenance, requiring minimal care once established. It is also used for its ability to hybridize with related species, such as Dryopteris affinis and Dryopteris oreades, which can result in a variety of interesting cultivars. In cultivation, it thrives in part shade to full shade and prefers consistently moist, well-drained soil. While it is generally pest and disease-free, it can occasionally suffer from fungal issues in overly wet conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Fern
Height: 2-3 feet
Width: 2-3 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: N/A
Flowering Season: Non-Flowering
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Part Shade, Full Shade
Water: Medium
Drainage: Slow, Medium, Fast

Common Uses

Border Plant, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden, Salt Tolerant, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Deciduous forests, damp shaded areas, often found under the canopy of trees

Other Names

Common Names: Male Shield Fern, Male Wood Fern, Male-Fern, Worm Fern, Almindelig Mangeløv, Gewöhnlicher Wurmfarn, Gemeiner Wurmfarn, Kivikkoalvejuuri, Dryoptère Fougère-Mâle, Dryoptéride Fougère-Mâle

Scientific Names: , Dryopteris filix-mas, Nephrodium filix-mas var. crenatum, Aspidium filix-mas var. blackwellianum, Dryopteris filix-mas f. filix-mas, Dryopteris filix-mas var. pseudorigida, Filix vulgaris, Lastrea propinqua, Nephrodium nemorale,

GBIF Accepted Name: Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott