Illustrative photo.
Dryopteris affinis 'CRISTATA THE KING' golden male fern
size/type
low or groundcovering
usual height
0,3-0,5m
usual width
0,5-0,6m
leaves
semi-deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
insignificant or non-blooming
location
semi-shade to shade
USDA zone (lowest)
4 (down to -34°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Description of the plant
The real king of all British ferns, and not only in the U.K, is this male fern called ´Cristata the King´. Throughout the mild and colder zones of Europe, this fern is a must have. Quite a robust one for a perennial, it creates long, arching fronds with striking crested tips. Each frond can grow up to some 50 cm on a mature plant and the stems, same as the little leaflets, are quite strong for a fern. If the winter is warm it stays green and alive until harsh frosts. Nevertheless, we recommend cutting back all last year’s leaves in the spring to encourage new growths.
