Male Fern Dryopteris filix-mas
Other plants called Male Fern:
- Phonetic Spelling
- dry-OP-ter-iss FIH-lix MASS
- Description
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Crown forming rhizome; prefers moist, well-drained soil in sun or shade. Plant in a location that is protected from wind.
VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Barnesii'
- 'Undulata Robusta'
- 'Barnesii'
- 'Barnesii', 'Undulata Robusta'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Barnesii'
- 'Undulata Robusta'
- 'Barnesii'
- 'Barnesii', 'Undulata Robusta'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dryopteris
- Species:
- filix-mas
- Family:
- Polypodiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Temp. Northern Hemisphere
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy shade, This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Stiff, lustrous, dark green fronds 8 in. wide, form a flattened vase; lance-shaped blade tapers at each end; pinnate-pinnatified; pinna long with deep cuts and blunt segments; short, densely scaly stipe with brown scales; sori near midrib
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Rabbits
