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perennial

Male fern

Dryopteris filix-mas

Native

Growing guidance

Horticultural figures below are practitioner estimates for planning, pending expert review. The botanical record further down is sourced and verifiable.

Current-climate suitability

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Future-climate resilience

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Sun

Shade

Soil moisture

average, moisture-retentive

Heat tolerance

Up to about 34°C

Cold tolerance

Down to about -30°C

Waterlogging tolerance

4/5

Drought tolerance

3/5

Mature size

0.6–1.2 m tall, 0.9 m spread

Seasonal interest

Spring to autumn · Green

Maintenance

low

Wildlife supported

General wildlife value 3/5 (verified species relationships are shown only where structured data exists)

Known risks or warnings

Fronds crisp in exposed dry sun.

Toxicity: mild

Verified botanical record

Accepted scientific name
Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott
Family
Dryopteridaceae (Polypodiales)
Rank and status
species · accepted
GBIF record
Taxon 5275132

Recorded native range: Belgium, Brussels-Capital Region, Flanders, Flemish Region, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Portugal Continental, Walloon Region

Recorded as introduced in: Argentina South, Chatham Is., Virginia

Ranges are exactly as recorded in the GBIF source checklists and may be incomplete for widely cultivated species.

Dryopteris filix-mas, the male fern, is a common fern of the temperate Northern Hemisphere, native to much of Europe, Asia, and North America. It favours damp shaded areas in the understory of woodlands, but also shady places on hedge-banks, and rocks, and screes. Near the northern limit of its distribution it prefers sunny, well-drained sites. It is much less abundant in North America than in Europe.

Description from Wikipedia — Dryopteris filix-mas (CC BY-SA), shortened and unedited in substance.

Native status and geographic context

  • United Kingdom: native
  • United States: native
  • Australia: climate-suitable

Native status is never inferred from climate similarity. Plants restricted or invasive in a jurisdiction are excluded from recommendations there.

Demonstration data. Climate, plant and retailer records shown here are realistic samples awaiting horticultural validation and live data connections.