Dryopteris carthusiana - Toothed Wood Fern

Dryopteris carthusiana or Carthusian fern is a beautiful fern native to temperate areas of North America and Eurasia. It is a deciduous species of medium size characterized by lanceolate, thin and slender fronds of a tender green. This delicacy is further enhanced by its spaced pinnate, giving it an airy and light appearance. Its habit is regular and its fronds are well formed. Its rhizome is creeping and its growth is quite slow. An elegant and delicate fern for shady or semi-shady areas of the garden, in cool and humus-rich soil.

Dryopteris carthusiana is part of a large group of plants called Dryopteris ferns, which are all deciduous or semi-evergreen terrestrial species belonging to the Dryopteridaceae family. Dryopteris carthusiana is a species present in Europe in wet environments such as heathlands, peat bogs, and woods. An adult plant forms a clump with an upright height of about 70cm (28in) and a spread of 50cm (20in). Its young shoots resemble scaly and soft croziers. Each crozier unfolds, spreading its spaced, dentate, tender green pinnate. The scales on the central veins are pale. The crown of its fronds measures from 30 to 60cm (12 to 24in) long. The plant is deciduous, its above-ground growth emerges in spring and dries up in autumn. The stump is very hardy.

Among the ferns of the temperate zones of the world, the Dryopteris fern is certainly the most widespread and, it must be said, one of the easiest to grow. Dryopteris come in very diverse forms, sometimes deciduous, sometimes evergreen, but always interesting. Dryopteris carthusiana is a plant to discover in our cool and shady gardens. It can be associated with baby's tears, pineapple lilies, hostas, hydrangeas, and shrub fuchsias, always in dappled light or shade where its beautiful tender green fronds illuminate dark areas.