Robust Male Fern
Dryopteris felix-mas 'Robusta'
A large, vigorous western U.S. native that is widely adaptable to any cool moist place in a garden or woodland. Long, leathery emerald-green fronds are upright and stately. Retains its foliage even in cold weather. Subevergreen.
| 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: | Needs 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 |
| Landscape uses: | Border, Firescaping/Fire Wise, Mass Planting, Woodland Garden |
| Blooms: | Does not flower |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 3626 |
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Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Feed frequently during growing season with a general purpose fertilizer. 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. 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.
A large, vigorous western U.S. native that is widely adaptable to any cool moist place in a garden or woodland. Long, leathery emerald-green fronds are upright and stately. Retains its foliage even in cold weather. Subevergreen.
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Feed frequently during growing season with a general purpose fertilizer. 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. 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.
| 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: | Needs 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 |
| Landscape uses: | Border, Firescaping/Fire Wise, Mass Planting, Woodland Garden |
| Blooms: | Does not flower |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 3626 |
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Monrovia soil products
The best fertilizer to use with this plant is All-Purpose Plant Food.view soil products