GardenWizzPlant Care Card

Dryopteris affinis

Dryopteris affinis · Fern

Hardiness
H5 Hardy — cold winter (to −15 to −10°C)
Position
Full shade, Partial shade
Height × Spread
60–160 cm × 30–40 cm
Soil
Moist but well-drained; moisture retentive; tolerates dry soils in shade once established; Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand; Acid or Alkaline or Neutral pH
Flowering
—
Toxicity
No toxicity recorded

The Gardening Year

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F
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A
M
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D
🪴 Plant out

Watch out for

Slugs and snails: Use copper tape barriers, hand-pick at night, or apply iron phosphate pellets.

Vine weevil: Apply systemic insecticide granules to the compost in autumn and spring.

Fern rust: Remove affected fronds and improve air circulation; usually cosmetic.

Root rot: Ensure well-drained planting sites and avoid overwatering in winter.

Desiccation: Mulch heavily with organic matter to retain moisture around the crown.

Full guide: gardenwizz.com/plants/dryopteris-affinis © GardenWizz — UK gardening encyclopedia