Robust Male Fern
Dryopteris felix-mas 'Robusta'
This vigorous western U.S. native is widely adaptable to any shady, cool and moist spot in the garden or woodland. Long, leathery emerald-green fronds are upright and stately, and retain their foliage well in cold weather. 'Robusta' is a fairly compact selection, producing a deep green flush of new fronds each spring. Semi-evergreen.
| Key feature: | Shade Loving |
| Plant type: | Fern |
| Garden style: | Asian/Zen |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Semi-evergreen |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 4 - 8 |
| Light needs: | Full shade |
| Water Needs: | Prefers wet or constantly moist soil. |
| Average landscape size: | Rapid growth to 4 ft. tall, 2 ft. or more wide. |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Special features: | Deer Resistant, North American Native Selection |
| Landscape uses: | Border, Firescaping/Fire Wise, Mass Planting, Woodland Garden |
| Blooms: | Does not flower |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 3626 |
| Retailers for this plant: |
Care Information
Provide moist, rich, well drained soil. Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Apply a general purpose fertilizer regularly during the growing season. Cut back old fronds after new growth begins in spring.
Design Ideas
A perfect space filler to flesh out shade gardens and landscapes under large shade trees or groves. Exceptional for filling gaps in rock waterfalls where shade prevents other plants. A good problem solver for narrow sideyards and fleshes out difficult north facing foundation planting.
Companion Plants
Group this fern with other woodland beauties such as Golden Japanese Forest Grass, (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'), Pewter Lace Painted Fern, (Athyrium niponicum 'Pewter Lace'), Ebony Knight Mondo Grass, (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Ebknizam') and Neon Lights Foam Flower, (Tiarella x 'New Lights').
History
This fern is native to a huge range spanning much of the Northern Hemisphere. This species is a commonplace wood fern in Europe and is also found in scattered locations in North America. It prefers to grow in limestone areas. The genus was classified and named by Austrian botanist Heinrich Schott. It is found in oak forests of Europe, which explains the translation of its name from the Greek for oak fern.
Lore
In ancient Europe, ferns were often associated with incantations and spells granting one invisibility because the plants lacked seeds and seemed to magically appear. Male fern is grown commercially as an anthelminthic, to expel worms.
This vigorous western U.S. native is widely adaptable to any shady, cool and moist spot in the garden or woodland. Long, leathery emerald-green fronds are upright and stately, and retain their foliage well in cold weather. 'Robusta' is a fairly compact selection, producing a deep green flush of new fronds each spring. Semi-evergreen.
Care Information
Provide moist, rich, well drained soil. Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Apply a general purpose fertilizer regularly during the growing season. Cut back old fronds after new growth begins in spring.
Design Ideas
A perfect space filler to flesh out shade gardens and landscapes under large shade trees or groves. Exceptional for filling gaps in rock waterfalls where shade prevents other plants. A good problem solver for narrow sideyards and fleshes out difficult north facing foundation planting.
Companion Plants
Group this fern with other woodland beauties such as Golden Japanese Forest Grass, (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'), Pewter Lace Painted Fern, (Athyrium niponicum 'Pewter Lace'), Ebony Knight Mondo Grass, (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Ebknizam') and Neon Lights Foam Flower, (Tiarella x 'New Lights').
History
This fern is native to a huge range spanning much of the Northern Hemisphere. This species is a commonplace wood fern in Europe and is also found in scattered locations in North America. It prefers to grow in limestone areas. The genus was classified and named by Austrian botanist Heinrich Schott. It is found in oak forests of Europe, which explains the translation of its name from the Greek for oak fern.
Lore
In ancient Europe, ferns were often associated with incantations and spells granting one invisibility because the plants lacked seeds and seemed to magically appear. Male fern is grown commercially as an anthelminthic, to expel worms.
| Key feature: | Shade Loving |
| Plant type: | Fern |
| Garden style: | Asian/Zen |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Semi-evergreen |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 4 - 8 |
| Light needs: | Full shade |
| Water Needs: | Prefers wet or constantly moist soil. |
| Average landscape size: | Rapid growth to 4 ft. tall, 2 ft. or more wide. |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Special features: | Deer Resistant, North American Native Selection |
| Landscape uses: | Border, Firescaping/Fire Wise, Mass Planting, Woodland Garden |
| Blooms: | Does not flower |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 3626 |
