Dryopteris affinis Cristata - Scaly Male Fern

Dryopteris affinis 'Cristata', also known as Crested Male Fern, was discovered in Cornwall and nicknamed by the English 'The King Of Ferns'. Considered one of the most beautiful, this variety also known as 'The King' produces young fronds covered in golden scales, which unfurl to reveal their pinnate ends bordered by a small crest, giving the plant a very unique crimped appearance. This very hardy, semi-evergreen variety forms a magnificent, regular and dense bouquet with an upright habit. This eccentric plant deserves a special place in the garden, whether planted alone or even reigning in a large pot on the terrace. It will reveal all its majesty in well-watered skies, in cool and humus-bearing soil, in shade or partial shade.

Dryopteris affinis is a perennial terrestrial fern with a short and robust rootstock belonging to the family of Dryopteridaceae, native to the moist undergrowth of deciduous trees in Western and Southwestern Europe, as well as Central Asia. This species tolerates cold weather very well and thrives in regions with high rainfall. It has given rise to numerous aberrant forms, including the cultivar 'Cristata', with crimped and multifurcate fronds. 'Cristata The King' forms a harmonious and dense clump, reaching 1m (3ft) in height and 50 to 80cm (20 to 32in) in spread. In spring, croziers covered in golden scales emerge from the stump, unfurling into highly ornamental, also golden, young fronds. The mature fronds are bipinnate, semi-evergreen to evergreen depending on the severity of winter, with a glossy green colour. They can reach a length of 1.20m (4ft) and retain a scaly and golden rachis and petiole as a memory of their youth. At the end of each pinna, the pinnules gather in small tufts forming 2 symmetrical crests, giving the fern a disheveled appearance.

Sometimes also called 'The King', this superb fern thrives on shaded slopes, rooted in acidic to slightly alkaline soil, and is truly stunning in humid regions. Prune the old fronds in early spring, as it is when the new fronds appear that you will fully appreciate this fern. Plant it alone against a north-facing wall, near an entrance, to be admired. It is majestic in a border, surrounded by a court of creeping shade-loving perennials such as bugles, dead nettles, and wood sorrels. It also deserves a prominent place on the terrace, in the shade, in a beautiful jar that matches its sumptuous extravagance.